Systems and Methods for Conveying a Parcel to a Consignee, For Example, After an Unsuccessful Delivery Attempt

ABSTRACT

A system for redirecting a parcel from a primary delivery location (e.g., a residential address) to a locker bank is configured to redirect the parcel following an unsuccessful delivery attempt at the primary delivery location. In some embodiments, the system is configured to determine a suitable locker bank to which to redirect the parcel based on preferences received from a carrier (e.g., common carrier), shipper of the parcel, or consignee of the parcel. In various embodiments, following the unsuccessful delivery attempt, the system is configured to receive a request to deliver the parcel to the locker bank, provide access to one or more lockers at the locker bank for placement of the parcel, receive confirmation that the parcel has been placed in a particular locker at the locker bank, and associate the parcel with the particular locker.

BACKGROUND

In the past, when a carrier was unable to deliver a parcel to aparticular address (e.g., because the recipient was not at home and itwas not possible to leave the parcel unattended at the particularaddress), the carrier would often attempt to redeliver the parcel onanother day. Such redelivery attempts could occur multiple times for aparticular parcel, which would result in increased transaction costs forthe carrier, and delays in receiving the parcel for the consignee.Accordingly, there is a need for improved systems and processes forfacilitating the delivery of parcels to consignees when an initialdelivery attempt is unsuccessful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of a system and method for delivering parcels toalternate delivery locations are described below. In the course of thisdescription, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, whichare not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an alternate delivery location deliverysystem in accordance with an embodiment of the present system;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a computer, such as the logisticsserver of FIG. 1, that is suitable for use in various embodiments;

FIG. 3 depicts a flow chart that generally illustrates various stepsexecuted by a parcel redirection module that, for example, may beexecuted by the logistics server of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart that generally illustrates various stepsexecuted by a Delivery Driver Locker Bank Management Module that, forexample, may be executed by the logistics server of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 depicts a flow chart that generally illustrates various stepsexecuted by a Consignee Parcel Release Module that, for example, may beexecuted by the logistics server of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 depicts a flow chart that generally illustrates various stepsexecuted by a consignee account creation module that, for example, maybe executed by the logistics server of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a locker bank according to a particularembodiment;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary locker bank computer, such as the locker bankcomputer shown in FIG. 7, which a delivery driver or other user mayutilize in the delivery or pick up of one or more parcels at a lockerbank; and

FIGS. 9-21 are screen shots of exemplary user interfaces that a deliverydriver or other user may use when delivering and/or retrieving parcelsto or from a particular locker bank.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

Various embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that theinvention may be embodied in many different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to thoseskilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Overview

In particular embodiments, a system for delivering items (e.g. parcels,packages, freight, mail, etc.) to alternate delivery locations isconfigured to facilitate the delivery of items to alternate deliverylocations via a carrier (e.g., common carrier, freight company,logistics company, courier, authorized agent, government agency, etc.)in response to one or many unsuccessful delivery attempt(s) to aprimary, alternate or virtual delivery address. In particularembodiments, an unsuccessful delivery attempt may include an attempt todeliver one or more items (e.g., parcels, mail, freight, etc. . . . )that could not be completed due to one or more policies of a carrierthat had attempted to make the delivery.

In various embodiments, an alternate delivery location may include alocation other than the physical address and/or virtual address of theparcel's intended recipient. Such alternate delivery locations maycomprise, for example: (1) one or more locker banks comprising aplurality of secure lockers; (2) one or more other secure storage areasfor holding items for later pickup; or (3) one or more ‘mobile’ (e.g.not fixed in place, on a mobile platform or vehicle) locker bankscomprising a plurality of secure lockers. The one or more locker banksmay, for example, be located in any suitable location, such as at astandalone facility and/or outside or within a facility designated for aprimary purpose other than item delivery. Such facilities may include,for example, retail stores, gas stations, grocery stores, pharmacies, orany other suitable location.

In particular embodiments, when a representative of a carrier (e.g., acommon carrier, a freight carrier, a less-than-truckload carrier, an aircarrier, an ocean carrier, and/or a rail carrier, etc.) arrives at alocker bank to deliver a parcel to the locker bank: (1) the driverindicates via a system directly accessed at the locker location and/orvia a portable computing device (e.g. a mobile device, a wearabledevice, etc.) that an item (e.g. package, freight, etc.) is to bedelivered and/or picked-up; (2) the system then either indicates or thedriver (service provider) selects an appropriate locker—e.g., based on asize of the parcel or other criteria (e.g. time of day, type of package,special handling instructions for the parcel); (3) the driver places orpicks-up the parcel in the locker chosen by the driver or the system;(4) a computer system associated with the locker bank sends anelectronic notification to the parcel's shipper, consignee, carrierand/or third party that the parcel is in the locker bank or has beenpicked up from the locker bank; the notification may also include anidentifier for the locker containing the parcel, an address of thelocker bank, and any other suitable information needed to retrieve theparcel from the locker bank; and (5) in the case of a delivery, thelocker bank holds the parcel until it is retrieved from the locker, oruntil a predetermined amount of time passes (e.g. a predetermined numberof days, weeks, months). If the locker is not retrieved within a certainamount of the time, the system may coordinate pickup and rerouting ofthe parcel (e.g., back to the shipper of the parcel, to the home of theparcel's intended recipient, etc. . . . ).

In various embodiments, the system may be configured to determine asuitable locker in which to place a parcel, for example, based at leastin part on a size of the parcel (e.g., a specified relative size of theparcel, such as small, medium, or large; the physical dimensions of theparcel; the parcel's dimensional weight, cube, etc. . . . ). Parcel sizeinformation may be received by the system, in various embodiments from:(1) the shipper; (2) the carrier that is coordinating delivery of theparcel; (3) the consignee and/or (4) any other party with knowledge ofthe item being shipped.

In particular embodiments, the system is further configured tofacilitate a release of one or more parcels from the locker bank to aconsignee or another person on behalf of the consignee. In suchembodiments, the system is configured to: (1) receive a request toretrieve the one or more parcels; (2) confirm the identity of the personrequesting to retrieve the one or more parcels; and (3) at leastpartially in response to confirming the person's identity, facilitaterelease of the one or more parcels from the locker bank. In someembodiments, the system is configured to prompt the consignee toregister for a consignee account (e.g., associated with a particularcommon carrier) following retrieval of the one or more parcels from thelocker bank by the consignee. The system may, for example, utilizeinformation obtained in confirming the consignee's identity (e.g., name,address, phone number) in order to facilitate the creation of theconsignee account.

Exemplary Technical Platforms

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the relevant field, a systemfor redirecting one or more parcels to alternate delivery locations maybe, for example, embodied as a computer system, a method, or a computerprogram product. Accordingly, various embodiments may take the form ofan entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore,particular embodiments may take the form of a computer program productstored on a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readableinstructions (e.g., software) embodied in the storage medium. Variousembodiments may take the form of web, mobile, wearablecomputer-implemented, computer software. Any suitable computer-readablestorage medium may be utilized including, for example, hard disks,compact disks, DVDs, optical storage devices, and/or magnetic storagedevices.

Various embodiments are described below with reference to block diagramsand flowchart illustrations of methods, apparatuses (e.g., systems) andcomputer program products. It should be understood that each block ofthe block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, and combinations ofblocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, respectively,can be implemented by a computer executing computer programinstructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded onto ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such thatthe instructions which execute on the computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus to create means for implementing the functionsspecified in the flowchart block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memoryproduce an article of manufacture that is configured for implementingthe function specified in the flowchart block or blocks. The computerprogram instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operationalsteps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus toproduce a computer implemented process such that the instructions thatexecute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide stepsfor implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block orblocks.

Accordingly, blocks of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrationssupport combinations of mechanisms for performing the specifiedfunctions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions,and program instructions for performing the specified functions. Itshould also be understood that each block of the block diagrams andflowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the blockdiagrams and flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by specialpurpose hardware-based computer systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware andother hardware executing appropriate computer instructions.

Example System Architecture

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a System 110 according to a particularembodiment. As may be understood from this figure, the System 110includes one or more computer networks 115, a Logistics Server 100, aPIN Generation Server 130, a Database 140, a Locker Bank Computer 730, aLocker Bank 700, and one or more remote computing devices such as atablet computer 152, a desktop or laptop computer 154, or a handheldcomputing device 156, such as a cellular phone. In particularembodiments, the one or more computer networks facilitate communicationbetween the Logistics Server 100, PIN Generation Server 130, Database140, Locker Bank Computer 730, Locker Bank 700, and one or more remotecomputing devices 152, 154, 156.

The one or more computer networks 115 may include any of a variety oftypes of wired or wireless computer networks such as the Internet, aprivate intranet, a public switch telephone network (PSTN), or any othertype of network. The communication link between the Logistics Server100, Pin Generation Server 130, Database 140, Locker Bank Computer 730,and Locker Bank 700 may be, for example, implemented via a Local AreaNetwork (LAN) or via the Internet.

In a particular embodiment, the Locker Bank 700 comprises one or moresecure lockers, bins, receptacles and/or designated areas made of asufficiently strong material to prevent unwanted access to the lockers(e.g., a suitable metal such as steel, steel cage). In a particularembodiment, the locker bank comprises a plurality of secure lockers thateach comprise an enclosure (e.g., a substantially rectangular enclosure)defining at least one opening. In various embodiments, the one or morelockers each comprise at least one door adjacent the opening forselectively restricting access to the interior of the one or morelockers. In particular embodiments, the at least one door is positionedto selectively prevent access to the interior of the locker enclosurethrough the at least one opening when the at least one door is in aclosed position. In various embodiments, the at least one door isconfigured, when in an open position, to provide access to the interiorof the locker enclosure through the at least one opening.

The one or more lockers further comprise at least one locking mechanismfor maintaining the at least one door in a closed position. Inparticular embodiments, the locking mechanism is controlled by one ormore Locker Bank Computers 730, which may, for example, require a PINnumber in order to unlock any particular locker within the Locker Bank700. The Locker Bank Computer 730 may control access to each of the oneor more lockers within the Locker Bank 700. In particular embodiments,each particular locker within the Locker Bank 700 is controlled by aparticular associated Locker Bank Computer 730. In particularembodiments, the PIN Generation Server 130 is configured to generate oneor more PIN numbers for unlocking one or more lockers within the LockerBank 700. The PIN Generation Server 130 may communicate a generated PINto the Locker Bank Computer 730, and the Locker Bank Computer 730 may beconfigured to allow access to a particular locker in response to entryof the PIN.

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of a computerarchitecture 120 that can be used within the System 110, for example, asa client computer (e.g., one of client computers 152, 154, 156 shown inFIG. 1), or as a server computer (e.g., Logistics Server 100 shown inFIG. 1). In particular embodiments, the computer 120 may be suitable foruse as a computer within the context of the System 110 that isconfigured to facilitate the delivery of parcels to alternate deliverylocations or facilitate the receipt and/or processing of parcels oncethey are delivered to the alternate delivery locations.

In particular embodiments, the computer 120 may be connected (e.g.,networked) to other computers in a LAN, an intranet, an extranet, and/orthe Internet. As noted above, the computer 120 may operate in thecapacity of a server or a client computer in a client-server networkenvironment, or as a peer computer in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment. The Computer 120 may be a personal computer (PC), atablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), acellular telephone, a web appliance, a server, a network router, aswitch or bridge, or any other computer capable of executing a set ofinstructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be takenby that computer. Further, while only a single computer is illustrated,the term “computer” shall also be taken to include any collection ofcomputers that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets)of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

An exemplary computer 120 includes a processing device 202, a mainmemory 204 (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic randomaccess memory (DRAM) such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) or Rambus DRAM(RDRAM), etc.), a static memory 206 (e.g., flash memory, static randomaccess memory (SRAM), etc.), and a data storage device 218, whichcommunicate with each other via a bus 232.

The processing device 202 represents one or more general-purposeprocessing devices such as a microprocessor, a central processing unit,or the like. More particularly, the processing device 202 may be acomplex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, reducedinstruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, very long instructionword (VLIW) microprocessor, or processor implementing other instructionsets, or processors implementing a combination of instruction sets. Theprocessing device 202 may also be one or more special-purpose processingdevices such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP),network processor, or the like. The processing device 202 may beconfigured to execute processing logic 226 for performing variousoperations and steps discussed herein.

The computer 120 may further include a network interface device 208. Thecomputer 120 also may include a video display unit 210 (e.g., a liquidcrystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)), an alphanumericinput device 212 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 214 (e.g.,a mouse), and a signal generation device 216 (e.g., a speaker).

The data storage device 218 may include a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium 230 (also known as a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium or a non-transitory computer-readablemedium) on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g.,software 222) embodying any one or more of the methodologies orfunctions described herein. The software 222 may also reside, completelyor at least partially, within main memory 204 and/or within processingdevice 202 during execution thereof by computer 120—main memory 204 andprocessing device 202 also constituting computer-accessible storagemedia. The software 222 may further be transmitted or received over anetwork 220 via network interface device 208.

While the computer-readable storage medium 230 is shown in an exemplaryembodiment to be a single medium, the terms “computer-readable storagemedium” and “machine-accessible storage medium” should be understood toinclude a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized ordistributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that storethe one or more sets of instructions. The term “computer-readablestorage medium” should also be understood to include any medium that iscapable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions forexecution by the computer and that cause the computer to perform any oneor more of the methodologies of the present invention. The term“computer-readable storage medium” should accordingly be understood toinclude, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical andmagnetic media, etc.

Exemplary System Platform

Various embodiments of a system for delivering items (e.g. parcels) toalternate delivery locations may be implemented within the context ofany suitable service. For example, particular embodiments may beimplemented within the context of any logistics service (e.g., such asthose provided by United Parcel Service of America, Inc. of Atlanta,Ga.). Various aspects of the system's functionality may be executed bycertain system modules, including a Parcel Redirection Module 300;Delivery Driver Locker Bank Management Module 400; Consignee ParcelRelease Module 500; and/or Consignee Account Creation Module 600. Thesemodules are discussed in greater detail below.

A. Parcel Redirection Module

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of operations performed by an exemplary ParcelRedirection Module 300. In particular embodiments, the ParcelRedirection Module 300 may facilitate the redirection of one or moreparcels from a primary delivery location (e.g., the original intendeddelivery location of a parcel, such as the intended parcel recipient'sresidence) to an alternate delivery location (e.g., such as a suitablelocker bank or attended access point). Although the Parcel RedirectionModule 300 below particularly describes parcel redirection to a lockerbank, it should be understood in the context of this disclosure that theParcel Redirection Module 300 may be utilized in the context of thesystem to redirect one or more parcels to any other suitable alternatedelivery location or other location.

I. Receipt of an Indication of Non-Delivery of a Parcel at a PrimaryDelivery Location

When executing the Parcel Redirection Module 300, the system begins, atStep 310, by receiving an indication that delivery of a parcel is notpossible at a primary delivery location. In various embodiments, thesystem receives the indication that the parcel is undeliverable from adelivery driver who was unable to perform the delivery. In particularembodiments, the system is configured to receive the indication in anysuitable manner (e.g., via input on a wireless device such as a smartphone or UPS' DIAD device). A delivery of a parcel may not be possible,for example: (1) because the parcel recipient is not “physically” hometo receive the parcel; (2) because no one is physically present at theprimary delivery location to sign for or authorize the delivery of theparcel if the parcel requires signature confirmation or otheridentification system; and (3) because the delivery driver hasdetermined or the carrier system has determined or the consignee hasindicated (e.g., based on one or more carrier policies, carrier systems,carrier system interaction with a consignees's system) that the itemshould not be left outside at the primary delivery location.

In various embodiments, the system is configured to facilitate placement(e.g., by the delivery driver) of an “information notice” at the primarydelivery location (e.g., on the door of the primary delivery location,or in any other suitable location from which a consignee living orworking at the primary delivery location may access, retrieve orotherwise obtain the information contained within the informationnotice). In various embodiments, the system is configured toassociate—e.g., in the system's memory—the parcel (e.g., and anytracking or other information associated with the parcel) with apre-printed machine-readable indicia (and/or alphanumeric codeassociated with the indicia) on the “information notice”. In particularembodiments, the system is configured to associate the parcel with thepre-printed “paper” machine-readable indicia at least partially inresponse to the delivery driver scanning the pre-printedmachine-readable indicia (e.g., using a suitable machine-readableindicia-scanner such as a barcode scanner or camera). In variousembodiments, the system may use the machine-readable indicia or relatedcode as a key within a database that may be used to retrieve additionalinformation regarding the parcel (e.g., the parcel's current location,status, and pickup instructions for the parcel).

In various embodiments, the “information notice” may comprise a sheet ofpaper that includes printed text and/or an embedded or attached physicaldevice (e.g., a computer chip) to indicate to the consignee that anattempt was made to deliver a parcel to the primary delivery location.The information notice may further indicate how the consignee candetermine when, where and how to obtain additional information regardingthe current physical location of the item (e.g. parcel) to completedelivery of the item.

The “information notice” left at the physical location of the primarydelivery location may have information printed, encoded or otherwiseindicated on or programmed in by the delivery person using mechanical orelectronic means. The system may receive such information, for example,from the delivery driver or other carrier representative, or from anyother suitable source. In various embodiments, the information thesystem receives may include but is not limited to, the time and/orlocation of the attempted delivery, other GPS information (e.g.altitude), the parcel's tracking number, an information notice referencenumber(s) and/or any other designated information.

In various embodiments, the information notice may instruct theconsignee to view tracking information for the parcel (e.g., using atracking number printed on the information notice, by scanning asuitable machine-readable indicia printed on the information noticeetc.) in order to ascertain a substantially current location or statusof their parcel. In various embodiments, tracking the parcel may enablethe consignee to wait until the parcel has been delivered to analternate delivery location (e.g., a particular locker bank) beforeattempting to retrieve the parcel. For example, in various embodiments,the system may redirect the parcel to an alternate delivery locationthat ultimately does not have capacity to accept the parcel, and thenredirect the parcel to a second alternate delivery location. In suchembodiments, it may be beneficial to provide the consignee with atracking number or other tracking information rather than a destinationto which the parcel has been redirected, in case the initial redirectionlocation cannot ultimately accept delivery of the parcel.

II. Retrieval of Locker Bank Information for Use in Determining aSuitable Locker Bank to which the System Will Redirect the Parcel

Next, at Step 320, the system continues by retrieving locker bankinformation associated with the primary delivery location, which thesystem may later use to determine which locker bank to reroute theparcel to. It should be understood that the types of informationdescribed below may be used in any suitable way, and that, in certaincases, certain types of information may not be available, and/or may notbe used in determining which locker bank should receive the parcel. As aparticular example, in various embodiments, the system may be configuredto reroute any suitable parcels that were the subject of an unsuccessfuldelivery attempt to a particular address, to be re-directed to aparticular, designated locker bank for the particular address.

With the above in mind, in various embodiments, the locker bankinformation may include, for example, the following: (1) carrier lockerbank availability information; (2) parcel recipient locker bank locationpreferences; (3) parcel shipper locker bank location preferences; and/or(4) other third-party (e.g. fulfillment house, logistics provider, etc.)information. Each of these types of information is described below.

A. Locker Bank Availability Information

In particular embodiments, the locker bank information retrieved by thesystem includes the location of one or more locker banks (e.g., attendedor unattended delivery locations) as well as information relating to theability of those locker banks to receive parcels. As may be understoodin the context of this disclosure, a particular carrier may own, lease,control, or otherwise have access to a plurality of locker banks in aparticular geographic area. In various embodiments, these may includethird party locker banks as well as locker banks owned and/or operatedby the carrier. In various embodiments, the system is configured toretrieve location information regarding locker banks that may be withina particular distance of the primary delivery location to which deliveryof a parcel was not possible. In particular embodiments, the particulardistance from the primary delivery location for which the systemretrieves locker bank location information depends at least in part onone or more attributes of the primary delivery location, or the area inwhich the primarily delivery location is situated.

As a particular example, when a primary delivery location is in an urbanor more densely populated area, the system may be configured to retrieveinformation for locker banks that are no more than a short distance fromthe primary delivery location (e.g., within walking distance of theprimary delivery location, within a predetermined distance (e.g., withinone mile of) the primary delivery location, within a particular numberof stops on a public transportation system from the primary deliverylocation, etc.). As a different example, when a primary deliverylocation is in a rural area, the system may be configured to retrieveinformation for alternate delivery locations that are farther from theprimary delivery location (e.g., up to ten miles from the primarydelivery location, within a fifteen minute drive of the primary deliverylocation, etc.).

In various embodiments, the system is configured to determine lockerbank location information based at least in part on a location of adelivery driver, which may, for example, be determined based on alocation of a mobile computing device (e.g., such as a smart phone orDIAD) associated with the delivery driver (e.g., based on GPScoordinates of the mobile computing device, etc.) and/or location of thedelivery vehicle (e.g. telematics) In such embodiments, the system maylocate one or more locker banks that are no more than a particulardistance from the delivery driver, delivery driver's route, deliveryvehicle, delivery recipient (e.g. based on consignees′, carriers′,and/or shippers' social network information, mobile GPS information,stored recipient preferences, etc.) and/or original shipper of the goods(e.g. high-value or perishable goods that may have special handlingrequirements) as discussed above.

In particular embodiments, the system may retrieve informationassociated with alternate delivery locations other than locker banks.For example, the system may retrieve information associated withalternate delivery locations that may include retail stores (e.g., gasstations, grocery stores, and pharmacies), stand-alone kiosks, or anyother suitable location for receiving and holding parcels for pickup byrecipients.

In various embodiments, each alternate delivery location may havelimited capacity for receiving and holding parcels (e.g., redirectedparcels) until the parcels are picked up by the intended recipients. Forexample, a particular locker bank may comprise sixteen individuallockers. Such a locker bank may only have capacity to store sixteenitems or groups of items (e.g. parcels) at any particular time. Asanother example, an alternate delivery location that is part of agrocery store may have limited physical storage space (e.g., shelfspace) for storing parcels. Other alternate delivery locations may beunable to store particular parcels that require special handling (e.g.,refrigeration or other temperature storing requirements). In particularembodiments, a particular locker bank may include one or more lockersthat have special handling capabilities (e.g., climate control,refrigeration, etc.). In various embodiments, alternate locker bankinformation includes information relating to the ability of a particularlocker bank location to receive and properly store a parcel. Inparticular embodiments, the system may substantially continuously (e.g.,continuously) update capacity information in real time for a particularlocker bank. In other embodiments, the system may update capacityinformation for a particular locker bank other than substantiallycontinuously (e.g., once per day, two times per day, etc.).

B. Carrier Locker Bank Location Preference Information

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to allow a logisticsprovider (e.g., a carrier, such as a common carrier) to designate apreferred or established locker bank for parcels that were unable to bedelivered to a particular location. The carrier may, for example: (1)assign a designated locker bank location (e.g., locker bank) to eachindividual primary delivery location (e.g., physical address); or (2)associate a particular locker bank location with a particular group ofdelivery addresses (e.g., all addresses within a particularsubdivision). In other embodiments, the system is configured to enable acarrier to determine a suitable locker bank location based at least inpart on an attribute of the one or more parcels that were unable to bedelivered. Such attributes may include, for example, the size of theparcel(s), special handling instructions associated with the parcel(s),etc. In various other embodiments, the system is configured to determinea suitable locker bank location based on any other suitable carrierpreference (e.g. volume of parcels, distance, time, service levelguarantees, etc.).

C. Parcel Recipient Locker Bank Location Preference Information

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to retrieve lockerbank location information that includes one or more parcel recipientpreferences related to a locker bank (or other alternate deliverylocations). These one or more parcel recipient preferences may beprovided to the system by one or more parcel recipients, for example,and may include one or more preferences related to a particular lockerbank location to which the recipients would like their parcels to beredirected following an unsuccessful delivery. In particularembodiments, the system is configured to allow each potential parcelrecipient to provide a list of preferred locker bank locations in aranking from most preferred to least preferred. In various embodiments,the system is configured to redirect one or more parcels to the intendedparcel recipient's most preferred locker bank location that is able toaccept the parcel. A parcel recipient may, for example, provide a mostpreferred locker bank location that is situated between the recipient'shome and place of work, so that the recipient can pick up the parcelfrom the locker bank on the way home from work. In various embodiments,the system is configured to enable a particular consignee to providelocker bank location and other preferences via an account the consigneehas with a particular carrier.

In various embodiments, the system is configured to allow parcelrecipients to provide preferred locker bank locations for any parcelthat the recipients may be scheduled to receive (e.g., for all parcelsscheduled for shipment to the parcel recipient, regardless of the sourceof the parcel). In other embodiments, the system is configured to allowa parcel recipient to select or otherwise provide preferred locker banklocations for specific parcels (e.g., in response to the parcelrecipient receiving a notification that the parcel recipient iscurrently scheduled to receive a particular parcel). In particularembodiments, following an unsuccessful delivery attempt, the system maybe configured to notify the parcel recipient (via a mobile device,private/public social network and/or the use of a physical “informationnotice” placed at the location of the primary delivery attempt) that thecarrier was unable to deliver the parcel to the primary deliverylocation and is further configured to provide the parcel recipient witha selection of locker bank locations or other alternate deliverylocations to which the parcel can be directed. In various embodiments,the system is configured to provide alternate delivery locations fromwhich the parcel recipient may choose that have substantially current(e.g., current) availability to accept the parcel.

In still other embodiments, the system is configured to enable a parcelrecipient to select a particular locker bank for delivery of all parcelsfor which the parcel recipient is the intended recipient. For example,the parcel recipient may select to have all future deliveries deliveredto the particular locker bank directly (e.g., rather than having thecarrier attempt delivery first at the primary delivery location).

D. Parcel Shipper Locker Bank Location Preference Information

In various embodiments, the system is configured to allow a shipper toselect whether parcels that the shipper sends to recipients can beredirected to locker bank locations following unsuccessful deliveryattempts of parcels. For example, when sending a parcel, the shipper mayindicate that the particular parcel should not be rerouted to any lockerbank location in the event of an unsuccessful delivery attempt. Inparticular embodiments, shippers may, for any suitable reason, opt outof allowing parcels that the shipper sends to be rerouted to locker banklocations (e.g., because of the nature of the item being shipped, etc.).In various embodiments, the system may be configured to allow shippersto set global preferences as to how their packages may be handled. Forexample, the shippers may indicate that none of their parcels should bererouted to a locker bank, or that only items of a certain type, size orcost may be rerouted to locker bank. Similarly, the system may beconfigured to allow a parcel shipper to specify the types of locker banklocations to which their parcels may be rerouted. For example, an onlineelectronics retailer may wish to prevent parcels that they ship tocustomers from being redirected to a locker bank that is locatedadjacent to, outside of, or within a store location that is a competitorto the online electronics retailer.

E. Social Media Locker Bank Location Determination Information

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to retrievepotential locker bank location information based at least in part onsocial media data associated with the consignee. The system, in variousembodiments, may be configured to retrieve the user's current locationand other data from one or more social network accounts associated withthe consignee. The system may, for example, determine that the consigneewas not home to accept the parcel when the parcel was unsuccessfullydelivered, but that the consignee but had “checked in” at a movietheater in their home city on a social network (e.g., Facebook,foursquare, twitter, etc.). In another example, the system may determinethat the consignee is currently in a different city or state (e.g., forbusiness, pleasure, etc.) based at least in part on social networkingdata (e.g., such as one or more photos uploaded by the consignee, socialmedia posts by the consignee, the consignee's calendar information,travel itinerary, vacation schedule, etc.). The system may then retrievelocker bank locations that are near the location of the consigneedetermined by the social media data. For example, after an unsuccessfuldelivery attempt to the consignee's home, the system may be configuredto reroute a parcel to locker bank location near or adjacent to a hotelwhere the consignee is currently staying for business.

The system may be further configured to enable consignees or othercustomers to provide a current location via an account of the consigneeassociated with a carrier (e.g., such as UPS' MyChoice service). Thesystem may be further configured to determine a current location of theconsignee based at least in part on GPS data retrieved from a mobilecomputing device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet computer and/or vehicle)associated with the consignee and/or the consignee's account.

III. Determination of a Suitable Locker Bank Using the Received LockerBank Information

Returning to Step 330, the system continues by determining anappropriate locker bank location based at least in part on the lockerbank location information retrieved at Step 320. The system may, forexample, determine that the appropriate locker bank location is aparticular locker bank that has been associated with the deliveryaddress of the parcel by the carrier. In another example, the system maydetermine that the appropriate locker bank location is the locker bankthat is highest on the parcel recipient's list of preferred locker banklocations that has (or that is predicted to have) sufficient capacity toreceive the parcel in terms of space and special handling requirements.As another example, the system may determine that no locker banklocation is suitable to receive a parcel (e.g., because the shipperindicated a preference for the parcel not to be redirected to a lockerbank). In this example, the parcel may be returned to a localdistribution center instead of a locker bank and delivery may beattempted on the following day or at any other suitable time.

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to determine anappropriate locker bank location based at least in part on a size and/orweight of the parcel. For example, parcels of a particular size may betoo large to leave at the primary delivery location when no one isavailable to accept the delivery of the parcel (e.g., because the sizeof the parcel may render the parcel more susceptible to theft if leftoutside of the primary delivery location). As a different example,parcels that are particularly large in size and/or weight may beunsuitable for redirection to a locker bank location due to thedifficulty that a parcel recipient may face in transporting a parcelpicked up at a locker bank location to the parcel recipient's residence.For example, parcels of a certain size or weight may be difficult for aparcel recipient to fit in the parcel recipient's vehicle or may be tooheavy for the parcel recipient to carry. For such parcels, the systemmay be configured to direct a carrier delivery driver to release theparcel at the primary delivery address (e.g., by leaving the parcel atthe primary delivery address) rather than redirecting the parcel to alocker bank location.

A. Determination of a Suitable Locker Bank Location Based on LockerAvailability and Parcel Size

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to determine anappropriate locker bank location based at least in part on: (1) acapacity (or predicted capacity) of a particular locker bank location totake delivery of the parcel (e.g., at a predicted time of delivery ofthe parcel to the locker bank, or any other suitable time); (2) a numberof available lockers and a size of available lockers at the locker banklocation; (3) a capacity of one or more available lockers at the lockerbank to satisfy any special handling criteria associated with the parcel(e.g., special environmental conditions such as no light or temperaturecontrol; noise limitations; protection from excessive vibrations; highsecurity, etc. . . . ); (4) the availability of a locker within aparticular location in a locker bank (e.g., the middle of the lockerbank) and/or (5) a size of the parcel. In various embodiments, thesystem may, when determining whether the locker bank is an appropriatealternate delivery location: (1) determine whether there are (or arepredicted to be) any available lockers in which to store the parcel upondelivery to the locker bank; (2) determine the size of any availablelockers within the locker bank; (3) determine a size of the parcel; and(4) determine whether any available lockers are sufficiently sized(e.g., sufficiently large) to physically accommodate the parcel (e.g.,securely store the parcel within the locker while the locker's door isclosed and locked). In particular embodiments, the system may beconfigured to track locker availability at a particular locker bank(e.g., in real time or in substantially real time) in order to determinelocker availability at a time when a particular parcel is predicted tobe delivered to the particular locker bank. In other embodiments, thesystem is configured to receive input from a delivery driver regarding acurrent availability of lockers at a particular locker bank, which thedelivery driver may have gleaned, for example, while making priordeliveries to or pickups from the particular locker bank (e.g., on aprevious day).

The system may, in various embodiments, store, in memory, size (e.g.,dimension) information for each particular locker at a particular lockerbank. In particular embodiments, the system is configured to receiveparcel size information for a particular parcel from a shipper of theparticular parcel (e.g., from a retailer that is shipping the parcel toan intended parcel recipient), a carrier computer system, a computerassociated with a consignee, and/or from a computer associated with athird party, such as a customs agency.

In certain embodiments, the system is configured to receive parcelmeasurements taken during handling of the parcel by a carrier. Forexample, the carrier may measure the parcel during any suitable phase ofshipping using any suitable measurement technique. Such techniques mayinclude, for example, manually measuring the parcel (e.g., by thedelivery driver following an unsuccessful delivery attempt), using alight curtain to measure the parcel, taking an image of the parcel andusing a suitable computer algorithm to estimate the size of the parcelfrom the image, or using any other suitable automated measuring deviceto measure the parcel's dimensions.

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to predict a size ofa particular parcel based in part on historical shipping data. Suchdata, may include, for example, information regarding the typical sizeof parcels handled by a carrier in a particular shipping lane. As aparticular example, the data may include information related to anaverage or otherwise typical size of parcels shipped: (1) from aparticular shipper (e.g., a particular retail store, e-commerce site,etc.) to a particular destination (e.g., city, state, individual,distribution center, etc.); (2) from a particular shipper (e.g., aparticular retail store, e-commerce site, etc.) within a particularshipping lane; (3) from a first particular geographic region to a secondparticular geographic region; and/or (3) from any particular shipper,type of shipper, or geographic location to a particular consignee, typeof consignee, or geographic location.

As a particular example, a particular company may sell coffee over theInternet. In this example, the company may typically sell five pounds ofcoffee per order and ship each order for five pounds of coffee insubstantially similar one foot square boxes. When determining a suitablealternate delivery location for parcels shipped by the particularcompany, the system may be configured to predict that the parcel is ofthe typical size shipped by the particular company (e.g., one footsquare).

In another example, an e-commerce website may offer a wide variety ofitems for sale and ship those items in parcels of varying sizes. Inparticular embodiments, the system is configured to determine a typical(e.g., average, mean) parcel size for parcels shipped by the e-commercesite and predict that a parcel shipped by the site will be of thattypical size. Similarly, the system may be configured to determine atypical parcel size for parcels shipped within a particular shippinglane and predict that a parcel shipped within the particular shippinglane will be of that typical size. In various embodiments, the systemmay determine an average size for parcels shipped from the e-commercesite to a particular place. For example, parcels shipped from thee-commerce site to a first city may have a first average size thatdiffers from a second average size of parcels shipped from thee-commerce site to a second city. In this example, the system may beconfigured to predict a size of a parcel shipped from the e-commercesite to the first city based on the first average size and predict asize of a parcel shipped from the e-commerce site to the second citybased at least in part on the second average size.

In yet another example, a carrier who moves millions of packages per dayof varying sizes and weight from many physical points to other physicalpoints can use advanced data analytics and big data storage (e.g. cloudcomputing) to examine and understand delivery patterns and packageparameters enabling the carrier to predict with high confidence thesize, shape and weight of parcels designated to be moved to alternatedelivery locations.

B. Receipt of Delivery Driver Override of System-Determined SuitableLocker Bank

In various embodiments, the system is configured to enable a deliverydriver to override a selection of a particular locker bank by the systemfor redirection of the parcel. The driver may, for example, determinethat the parcel would not fit in any of the lockers at the particularlocker bank, for example, because the driver is familiar with theparticular locker bank from having made deliveries there previously. Thesystem may be further configured to enable the driver to provide thesystem with alternate instructions regarding the parcel such as, forexample: (1) re-attempting delivery of the parcel at a later time; (2)redirecting the parcel to a different alternate delivery location (e.g.,such as a different locker bank, a staffed alternate delivery location,etc.); and/or (3) take any other suitable action for the parcel.

IV. Facilitation of Delivery of the Parcel to the Determined SuitableLocker Bank

Continuing with FIG. 3, the system continues, at Step 340, byfacilitating delivery of the parcel to the appropriate locker banklocation determined at Step 330. In particular embodiments, redirectingthe parcel to the appropriate locker bank location comprisessubstantially automatically (e.g., automatically) reserving space atthat locker bank location for the parcel (e.g., to ensure that therewill be room and/or capacity for the parcel once the parcel arrives atthe alternate delivery location). For example, the system may beconfigured to substantially automatically reserve a locker for theparcel within a particular locker bank. In still other embodiments, thesystem is configured to facilitate delivery of the parcel to thesmallest locker at the locker bank that is sufficiently sized (e.g., issufficiently wide, tall, and deep) to accommodate the parcel.

In various embodiments, directing the parcel to the locker bank locationfurther comprises delivering the parcel to the locker bank location andconfirming that the parcel has been deposited into a locker at thelocker bank location. In various embodiments, confirming that the parcelhas been deposited at the locker bank may include receiving anindication from the locker bank's computer indicating that the parcelhas been successfully deposited in one of the locker bank's lockers. Invarious embodiments, in response to receiving this indication, thesystem is configured to associate the parcel with that locker locationor particular locker (e.g., for the purposes of tracking the parcel,notifying the intended parcel recipient of the location of the parcel,etc.). In other embodiments, the system is configured to confirmdelivery of a parcel at an alternate delivery location using any othersuitable technique (e.g., GPS tracking, geocoding, etc.).

In various embodiments, when a locker is used as an alternate deliverylocation, the delivery driver or other individual may use a portableelectronic device (e.g., a handheld computing device) to save thelocation of the locker and the particular locker in which the parcel isstored for later use by the system. In particular embodiments, thesystem is configured to notify the parcel recipient that the parcel hasbeen delivered to the alternate delivery location (e.g., via e-mail,SMS, text message, or any other suitable method of communication). Thesystem may further provide a particular locker number to the consigneein which the consignee's one or more parcels are stored.

In various embodiments, the system may be configured to facilitatedelivery of a plurality of parcels to a particular locker bank andstorage of each individual parcel in a separate locker. In otherembodiments, the system is configured to facilitate delivery of aplurality of parcels having two or more intended recipients to aparticular locker bank and further facilitate placement of each of theplurality of parcels having the same intended recipient into aparticular locker. For example, following an unsuccessful delivery ofthree parcels to a particular address that is shared by two roommates,the systems may facilitate delivery of those parcels to a suitablelocker bank. If one of the three parcels is addressed to a firstroommate, and two of the three parcels are addressed to a secondroommate, the system may be configured to facilitate placement of theparcel addressed to the first roommate in a first locker and the parcelsaddressed to the second roommate in a second locker. In such anembodiment, when the first roommate comes to the locker bank to retrievetheir parcel, the system may be configured to only release theparticular parcel addressed to the first roommate. As will be understoodmore fully in the context of the Consignee Parcel Release Moduledescribed below, the system may be configured to generate separate PINnumbers for parcels having different consignees, even where thoseconsignees share a primary address and even when those parcels weredirected to a locker bank following an unsuccessful delivery attempt tothe same address on the same day.

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to manageredirection of parcels to an alternate delivery location (e.g., such asa suitable locker bank) where the parcels are intended for delivery to adelivery group. In various embodiments, delivery groups may be, forexample, groups of businesses or individuals that agree to acceptdeliveries at a designated common location. In various embodiments, oncea delivery group is created, the computer system (which may, forexample, be implemented by a logistics company or retailer) is adaptedto automatically coordinate the delivery of one or more parcels to acommon location and to coordinate pickup of the one or more parcels byany member of the group at the designated common location. In situationsin which delivery of one or more parcels to the designated commonlocation is not possible, the system may be configured to redirect theone or more parcels to a suitable locker bank and facilitate storage ofparcels intended for different recipients in different lockers. Systemsand methods related to implementation of delivery groups are describedmore fully in U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/793,307, filed Mar.15, 2013 by United Parcel Service of America, Inc. and entitled: “GroupDelivery Systems and Related Methods”, which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference.

B. Delivery Driver Locker Bank Management Module

Various embodiments of a system of delivery one or more parcels toalternate delivery location may further include systems for managing theplacement of parcels in and retrieval of parcels from particular lockersin a particular locker bank, for example, by representatives of carrierssuch as delivery drivers, employees at staffed locker banks, etc.Various aspects of the system's functionality may be executed by certainsystem modules, including a Delivery Driver Locker Bank ManagementModule 400. This module is discussed in greater detail below. It shouldbe understood that, while this module is described within the context ofinteraction with a Delivery Driver, the module may similarly interactwith any other suitable user.

I. Receipt of Request to Access a Locker

When executing the Delivery Driver Locker Bank Management Module 400,the system begins, at Step 410, by receiving a request, from a deliverydriver (other representative associated with a carrier), to access thelocker bank. In various embodiments, the request to access the lockerbank may include an access of a locker bank computer by the deliverydriver. The delivery driver may, for example, access the locker bankcomputer by logging into the locker bank computer using credentialsprovided by a carrier. In other embodiments, the system is configured toreceive the request in response to receiving a scan of amachine-readable indicia associated with the delivery driver (e.g., amachine-readable indicia located on an identification card associatedwith the delivery driver, located on a hand-held computing deviceassociated with the delivery driver such as a DIAD, etc.). In otherembodiments, the system may receive the request in any other suitablemanner such as, for example, in response to input on a touch-screen,wireless, NFC, Bluetooth, iBeacons, etc. associated with the locker bankcomputer, etc.

II. Enabling the Delivery Driver to Deliver or Pick Up One or MoreParcels to or from the Locker Bank

Continuing at Step 420, the system, at least partially in response toreceiving the request, enables the delivery driver to select to: (1)deliver one or more parcels to the locker bank; and/or (2) pick up oneor more parcels from the delivery bank. In various embodiments, thesystem enables the delivery driver to make the selection via the lockerbank computer. In other embodiments, the system enables the deliverydriver to make the selection in any other suitable manner, such as via amobile computing device associated with the delivery driver. Inparticular embodiments, in addition to enabling the delivery driver tomake the selection, the system is configured to display suitableinformation associated with the locker bank to the delivery driver, suchas, for example, a number of available lockers (e.g., a particularnumber of available lockers or any particular size), or any othersuitable information associated with the locker bank.

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to enable thedelivery driver to deliver or pickup one or more parcels form the lockerbank in any particular order. For example, in various embodiments, adelivery driver may need to pick up a particular number of parcels fromthe locker bank and deliver a particular number of parcels to the lockerbank. The parcels for pickup may include, for example, one or moreparcels that have “aged out” (e.g., one or more parcels that have beenstored at the locker bank past a pickup deadline for the one or moreparcels), one or more parcels that have been requested by a consignee tobe delivered to a different location, etc. The delivery driver may, forexample, elect to pick up any parcels from the locker bank beforeplacing newly delivered parcels into the locker bank, so that there willbe enough available lockers in which to place the newly deliveredparcels. In various embodiments, the system is determined to receiveinput from the delivery driver of a number of parcels that the deliverydriver is delivering to the locker bank, as well as informationassociated with a number of parcels that need to be picked up from thelocker bank. The system may then determine whether the delivery drivershould deliver the parcels first or pick up the parcels first andprovide instructions to the delivery driver accordingly.

A. Delivery Driver Parcel Delivery Facilitation

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to enable thedelivery driver to deliver one or more parcels to the locker bank, forexample, by facilitating placement of the one or more parcels into oneor more particular lockers within the locker bank. The system may, forexample, at Step 430, receive a request to deliver one or more parcelsto the locker bank. In various embodiments, the system is configured toreceive the request in response to selection of an indicia on a lockerbank computer touchscreen, pressing of a delivery button on the lockerbank computer, or in any other suitable manner.

In particular embodiments, the request from a delivery driver may beinitiated by the delivery driver entering at least a portion of atracking number (e.g., 1Z number) that is associated with the one ormore parcels into a computer associated with the locker bank. Thedelivery driver may, for example, enter the at least a portion of thetracking number on a suitable alphanumeric entry device associated withthe locker bank computer (e.g., such as a keyboard, touchscreen, etc.).In various embodiments, the at least a portion of the tracking numbermay include any suitable portion of the tracking number. For example,the suitable portion of the tracking number may include: (1) the firstor last three digits and/or letters of the tracking number; (2) thefirst or last four digits and/or letters of the tracking number; (3) thefirst or last five digits and/or letters of the tracking number; (4) thefirst or last six digits and/or letters of the tracking number; and/or(5) any suitable number of letters or digits that make up any suitableportion of the tracking number (e.g., first three and last three, etc.).

In other embodiments, the system is configured to receive the request todeliver the one or more parcels to the locker bank at least partially inresponse to receiving input of a machine-readable indicia, which may,for example, be printed on the one or more parcels and associated withtracking information for the one or more parcels. In variousembodiments, the locker bank computer may comprise one or moremachine-readable indicia scanners (e.g., such as a barcode scanner),configured to enable the delivery driver (e.g., or another) to scan amachine-readable indicia on a particular parcel (e.g., affixed to theparticular parcel, printed on the particular parcel, etc.). Inparticular embodiments, the system may retrieve information associatedwith the machine-readable information, such as, for example, trackinginformation for the particular parcel. In particular embodiments, thesystem is configured to interpret a scanning of a machine-readableindicia associated with a particular parcel as a request to deliver thatparticular parcel to the locker bank.

Returning to FIG. 4, the system continues, at Step 440, by at leastpartially in response to receiving the request to deliver the one ormore parcels to the locker bank, providing access to one or more lockersin the locker bank to the delivery driver. In various embodiments, thelocker bank computer is configured to control access to each particularlocker in the locker bank, for example, via one or more lockingmechanisms associated with each particular locker. In particularembodiments, the system is configured to provide access to the one ormore lockers in the locker bank by unlocking each locking mechanismassociated with the one or more lockers. In various embodiments, eachlocker may be equipped with one or more indicators (e.g., one or moreindicators for each particular locker) that are configured to indicatewhen a particular locker in the locker bank is unlocked. For example,each particular locker may have an associated indicator light adjacentthe particular locker that the system is configured to turn on when thelocker is unlocked.

In still other embodiments, the system is configured to at leastpartially open the one or more lockers to which the system is providingaccess, for example, in order to facilitate placement, by the deliverydriver, of the one or more parcels in the one or more lockers. Inparticular embodiments, the one or more lockers are one or more lockersof varying sizes from which the delivery driver may select for the oneor more parcels. In a particular embodiment, the system is configured toopen three lockers whereby: (1) the first locker is a small sizedlocker; (2) the second locker is a medium sized locker; (3) and thethird locker is a large sized locker. In various embodiments, the mediumsized locker may include any locker that is relatively larger than thesmall sized locker and relatively smaller that the large sized locker.In particular embodiments, a small sized locker may be sized to snugglyfit a parcel that is substantially the same size as a shoebox.

Continuing at Step 450, the system receives an indication that the oneor more parcels have been placed in a particular locker of the one ormore open lockers. In various embodiments, the system is configured toreceive the indication at least partially in response to the deliverydriver closing the locker (e.g., after placing the one or more parcelsin the locker). In other embodiments, the system is configured toreceive the indication from the delivery driver (e.g., via a suitableinput device associated with the locker bank computer). Each locker inthe locker bank, may, for example, have a unique identifier (e.g., anidentifier that corresponds to a column and row in which the locker islocated, a unique alphanumeric identifier, etc.). The system may then beconfigured to receive input of the unique identifier associated with theparticular locker in which the delivery driver placed the one or moreparcels.

In various embodiments, the system may be configured to receive theindication that the one or more parcels have been placed in a particularlocker at least partially in response to one or more sensor readings. Inparticular embodiments, each particular locker in a locker bank may beequipped with one or more sensors configured to determine whether one ormore parcels have been placed within the particular locker. For example,in various embodiments, each particular locker in a locker bank mayinclude one or more weight sensors (e.g., one or more scales), one ormore pressure sensors (e.g., one or more piezoelectric sensors), one ormore infrared sensors, or any other suitable sensor configured todetermine that one or more parcels are substantially currently presentwithin a particular locker.

In particular embodiments, such as embodiments in which the system isconfigured to substantially automatically determine that the one or moreparcels have been placed in a particular locker, the system isconfigured to prompt the delivery driver to confirm that the deliverydriver in fact placed the one or more parcels in the particular locker.The system may, for example, at least partially in response todetermining that the one or more parcels have been placed in aparticular locker (e.g., Locker 2B) based on determining that the doorto the particular locker has been closed, prompt the delivery driver toconfirm that the delivery driver had placed the one or more parcels inthat particular locker. In various embodiments, the system may display amessage (e.g., on a display screen associated with the locker bankcomputer) stating that the one or more parcels have been placed in theparticular locker and request that the delivery driver select among: (1)confirming the veracity of the system determined placement; (2)overriding the system-determined placement and providing the properlocker identification manually; and (3) restarting the delivery processand re-attempting to deliver the one or more parcels to a particularlocker.

Continuing at Step 460, the system, at least partially in response toreceiving the indication at Step 450, associates the one or more parcelswith the particular locker. In various embodiments, the system mayupdate tracking information associated with the one or more parcels toindicate the location of the locker bank, and an identification of theparticular locker in which the one or more parcels are stored.

B. Delivery Driver Parcel Pickup Facilitation

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to enable thedelivery driver to pick up one or more parcels from the locker bank. Thesystem may do this, for example, by notifying the delivery driver of oneor more parcels available for pickup from the locker bank and providingaccess to the particular lockers in which the one or more parcelsavailable for pickup to the delivery driver. The system may begin thisprocess, for example, at Step 435, where it receives a request to pickup one or more parcels from the locker bank. In various embodiments, thesystem may receive this request from the delivery driver in response tonotifying the delivery driver that one or more parcels are available forpickup from the locker bank. The one or more parcels available forpickup may, for example, include: (1) one or more parcels that theconsignee has requested the carrier deliver to a different location(e.g., a residential location, a different locker bank, a differentalternate delivery location, etc.); (2) one or more parcels that havebeen stored at the locker bank for longer than a predetermined length oftime (e.g., one week, five days, etc.); or any other parcel that mayrequire pick up for any other suitable reason.

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to receive therequest following delivery, by the delivery driver, of one or moreparcels to one or more particular lockers within the locker bank. Inother embodiments, the system may receive the request to pick up one ormore parcels prior to delivery of any parcels, by the delivery driver,to the locker bank. In still other embodiments, the system may receivethe request to pick up one or more parcels from a delivery driver whilethe delivery driver is in the midst of delivering one or more parcels tothe locker bank (e.g., after the delivery driver has delivered at leastsome of the one or more parcels the delivery driver needs to deliver tothe locker bank, but before the delivery driver has delivered all of theparcels). As a particular example, the delivery driver may deliver aportion of the one or more parcels the delivery driver needs to deliverto the locker bank before picking up one or more parcels from the lockerbank to make room for one or more additional parcels that the deliverydriver needs to deliver.

Continuing at Step 445, the system, at least partially in response toreceiving the request, provides access to one or more particular lockerscontaining the one or more parcels for pick up. In particularembodiments, the locker bank computer is configured to control access toeach particular locker in the locker bank, for example, via one or morelocking mechanisms associated with each particular locker. In particularembodiments, the system is configured to provide access to the one ormore particular lockers that contain the one or more parcels for pickupin the locker bank by unlocking each locking mechanism associated withthe one or more particular lockers. In various embodiments, the lockermay be equipped with one or more indicators (e.g., one or moreindicators for each particular locker) that are configured to indicatewhen a particular locker in the locker bank is unlocked and contains oneor more parcels for pickup. For example, each particular locker may havean associated indicator light adjacent the particular locker that thesystem is configured to turn on when the locker is unlocked to enablethe delivery driver to retrieve the one or more parcels for pickupwithin. In still other embodiments, the system is configured to at leastpartially open the one or more lockers to which the system is providingaccess, for example, in order to facilitate retrieval, by the deliverydriver, of the one or more parcels for pickup in the one or moreparticular lockers.

Continuing at Step 455, the system is configured to receive anindication that the one or more parcels have been removed from the oneor more lockers. In various embodiments, the system receives theindication at least partially in response to closing, by the deliverydriver, of the one or more lockers to which the system had providedaccess at Step 445 (e.g., following removal of the one or more parcelsfor pickup from the one or more particular lockers by the deliverydriver). In other embodiments, the system is configured to receive anindication from the delivery driver that the delivery driver hascompleted his or her pickup of the one or more parcels for pickup fromthe one or more particular lockers. For example, the delivery driver mayselect an indicia on a touch-screen associated with the locker bankcomputer that indicates the completion. In still other embodiments, thesystem may determine that the delivery driver has completed his or herpickup of the one or more parcels for pickup in any other suitablemanner.

Next, at Step 465, at least partially in response to receiving theindication at Step 455, the systems updates tracking information for theone or more picked up parcels. In various embodiments, updating thetracking information may include updating the tracking information for aparticular parcel to: (1) indicate that the parcel is being returned toa sender of the particular parcel; (2) otherwise indicate that theparcel is en route to a location to which a consignee has requested theparticular parcel be redirected; and/or (3) indicate any othersubstantially current tracking status of the particular parcel.

In various embodiments, the system is configured to allow the deliverydriver to select to deliver or pickup one or more parcels during aparticular visit to a locker bank in any suitable order. In variousembodiments, the system is configured to instruct the delivery driver asto an order in which to deliver and/or pickup parcels (e.g., based atleast in part on a number of parcels for pickup and a number of parcelsthe delivery driver needs to deliver to the locker bank). In otherembodiments, the system is configured to enable the delivery driver toselect to deliver one or more parcels prior to picking up any parcelsfor pickup, to pick up any parcels for pickup prior to delivering any ofthe one or more parcels to the locker bank, and/or alternate deliveryand pickup parcels to/from the locker bank in any suitable order.

C. Consignee Parcel Release Module

Various embodiments of a system for delivering one or more parcels toone or more locker bank locations may further include systems forreleasing parcels delivered to the one or more locker bank locations toconsignees. In particular, such systems may include systems forreleasing parcels delivered to attended or unattended lockers such asthose discussed above. Such systems may be configured for releasingitems (e.g. parcels) to either subscribed consignees (e.g. known to thecarrier through enrollment in a consignee program such as a UPS MyChoice) or unsubscribed consignees (e.g., consignees who have not signedup for a consignee account with a carrier, or otherwise unknown to thecarrier). Various aspects of the system's functionality may be executedby certain system modules, including a Consignee Parcel Release Module500. This module is discussed in greater detail below.

I. Receipt of Request from Individual to Retrieve One or More Parcelsfrom the Locker Bank

When executing the Consignee Parcel Release Module 500, the systembegins, at Step 510, by receiving a request from an individual (e.g.,the consignee of one or more parcels) to retrieve the one or moreparcels from a locker bank. In various embodiments, the consignee may beaware that one or more parcels belonging to them are currently beingstored at the locker bank based on: (1) one or more info notices left attheir place of residence indicating that the one or more parcels havebeen redirected to the locker bank; (2) tracking information associatedwith the one or more parcels; (3) one or more notifications from aconsignee program in which they are enrolled; and/or (4) any othersuitable mechanism for informing an individual, consignee, shipper orthird party of a delivery. The system may receive the request toretrieve the one or more parcels, for example, when the system receivesa code or other suitable identifier from either a “subscribed” or an“unsubscribed” consignee. Unsubscribed consignees may be “unknown” tothe carrier in that the carrier does not have detailed information(e.g., contact and/or address information) for the consignee. Inparticular embodiments, a consignee may receive a notice (e.g. anInformation Notice) from a carrier informing the consignee that anunsuccessful parcel delivery attempt has been made to the consignee'sresidence or other primary delivery address. The notice (e.g.Information Notice) may comprise, for example: (1) a slip of paper,cardboard, plastic, and/or electronic device left at the consignee'sphysical address (e.g., the delivery address of the package); (2) amessage to a mobile computing device or account associated with theconsignee; and/or (3) any other suitable form of notice (e.g. live voicecall, automated call, text, picture, video, e-mail, emoji's, automatedassistant message (e.g. from Apple's Siri)).

In particular embodiments, the notice may include a parcel identifier(e.g., a tracking number such as a 1Z number, and/or other suitableparcel identifier) for the consignee to provide at a locker bank inorder to access the one or more parcels. In other embodiments, theparcel identifier may be associated with a tracking number for theparcel. In particular embodiments, the parcel identifier (or thetracking number with which is it associated) may be associated withPackage Level Detail (PLD) information associated with the parcel (e.g.,a name of the consignee, delivery address, name of shipper, packageweight, dimensions, etc.) and/or tracking information indicating statusof package disposition and/or physical location. In particularembodiments, the Information Notice may comprise one or moremachine-readable indicia (e.g., such as a linear barcode, QR code, orother suitable indicia), which may be associated with trackinginformation for the parcel.

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to provide theparcel identifier to the consignee in any other suitable manner otherthan via a notice left at the primary delivery location. For example,the system may be configured to enable the consignee to retrieve theparcel identifier by: (1) retrieving the parcel identifier from a website or mobile application associated with the carrier that isdelivering the parcel (e.g., using a tracking number associated with theparcel); (2) retrieving the parcel identifier from a retailer or otherperson/entity that shipped the parcel (e.g., via suitable web site);and/or (3) retrieve the parcel identifier from any other suitablesource.

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to receive therequest to retrieve the one or more parcels from the locker bank atleast partially in response to the consignee (e.g., or an authorizedperson associated with the consignee who has gone to the locker toretrieve the one or more parcels on behalf of the consignee) scanning amachine-readable indicia (e.g., a barcode, or other suitable indicia)provided to the consignee as part of the notice of the unsuccessfuldelivery attempt.

In other embodiments, the system may receive the request in response toinput (e.g., by the consignee or another on behalf of the consignee) ofthe parcel identifier via a suitable input device at the locker bank. Inparticular embodiments, the system is configured to receive the requestin response to input (e.g., by the consignee or another on behalf of theconsignee) of any suitable portion of the parcel identifier such as, forexample: (1) the first or last three digits and/or letters of the parcelidentifier; (2) the first or last four digits and/or letters of theparcel identifier; (3) the first or last five digits and/or letters ofthe parcel identifier; (4) the first or last six digits and/or lettersof the parcel identifier; and/or (5) any suitable number of letters ordigits that make up any suitable portion of the parcel identifier (e.g.,first three and last three, etc.) that may enable the system to identifythe parcel based on the at least a portion of the parcel identifierentered by the consignee or another on behalf of the consignee.

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to receive therequest in response to input, by the consignee or another on behalf ofthe consignee, of an original delivery address of the one or moreparcels. For example, following an unsuccessful delivery attempt to aconsignee's home address, a carrier may provide instructions to theconsignee that one or more parcels are being stored in a locker at aparticular locker bank for their retrieval. At the locker bank, theconsignee may provide their home address in order to request any parcelsthat may have been stored at the locker bank in one or more lockersfollowing an unsuccessful delivery attempt to that home address.

In various embodiments, the system may be configured to receive therequest based at least in part on one or more communications with amobile computing device, home security system, home Wi-Fi system and/orvehicle communication system associated with the consignee. For example,the system may be configured to communicate (e.g., via Bluetooth, LowEnergy Bluetooth (LEB), Near-Field Communication (NFC), WI-FI, iBeacon,etc.) with the consignee's mobile computing device when the consignee isat the locker bank or other alternate delivery location to retrieve theparcel. The consignee may, for example, send the request using anapplication on the consignee's mobile computing device. In otherembodiments, the system may receive the request by receiving aconfirmation that the consignee is physically present at the locker bank(e.g., by comparing a GPS location of the consignee determined from aGPS location of the consignee's mobile computing device with a GPSlocation of the locker bank).

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to receive therequest to retrieve the one or more parcels at least partially inresponse to the consignee logging into a consignee account associatedwith a carrier. The system may, for example, interpret the consigneelogging into their consignee account at a locker bank computer, or on amobile computing device associated with the consignee while theconsignee is physically present at the locker bank, as a request toretrieve any parcels associated with the consignee that are currentlystored at the locker bank.

II. Confirmation of Identity of Individual Requesting Retrieval ofParcel

Returning to Step 420, the system continues by, at least partially inresponse to receiving the request, confirming an identity of theindividual making the request. In various embodiments, the system isconfigured to confirm the identity of the individual based, at least inpart, on any suitable information such, as, for example, informationdetermined from an identification card associated with the individual ora telephone number provided by the individual. In various embodiments,the system may confirm the individual's identity substantiallyautomatically based on the nature of the request received at Step 510(e.g., because the request came from a consignee account). These variousmanners of confirming an individual's identity are discussed in greaterdetail below.

A. Identity Confirmation Based on an Identification Card

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to confirm theidentity of the individual as a “subscribed” or “unsubscribed” (e.g.,individual who hasn't previously signed up for an account with aparticular delivery service) consignee, shipper or third partyrequesting retrieval of the one or more parcels based at least in parton an identification card associated with the individual (e.g., agovernment-issued identification card such as a passport or driver'slicense, a credit card, etc.). In various embodiments, the system isconfigured to: (1) receive input of the identification card from theindividual; (2) confirm an authenticity of the identification card; (3)at least partially in response to confirming the authenticity of theidentification card, obtain one or more pieces of identifyinginformation from the identification card; (4) retrieve one or morepieces of PLD information associated with the one or more parcels and/orother information; (5) compare the one or more pieces of identifyinginformation with the one or more pieces of PLD information; (6)determine a number of the one or more pieces of identifying informationthat at least partially match the one or more pieces of PLD information;(7) at least partially in response to determining that at least athreshold number of the one or more pieces of identifying information atleast partially match the one or more pieces of PLD information, confirmthe identity of the individual.

The system may receive input of the identification card, for example,by: (1) receiving an image of the consignee's identification card (e.g.,using any suitable imaging device); (2) receiving a confirmation thatthe consignee has scanned their identification card using any suitablecard reader (e.g., a barcode scanner, magnetic reading head, cameraetc.); and/or (3) in any other suitable manner (e.g., electronictransfer from a computing device).

In particular embodiments, the system is further configured to confirman authenticity of the identification card. In various embodiments, thesystem may be configured to identify one or more authenticating marks onthe identification card (e.g., security features such as one or moreholograms, one or more ultraviolet ink printed features, etc.). Inparticular embodiments, the system is configured to confirm theauthenticity of the identification card based at least in part on thetype of identification card (e.g., the state that issued theidentification card, etc.). In various embodiments, the system isconfigured to identify one or more known security features on theidentification card or other form of identification in order to confirmthe authenticity of the card.

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to determine, basedat least in part on information gathered from the identification card,at least one or more of the following pieces of identifying information:(1) a first name and/or middle name of the person requesting retrievalof the one or more parcels; (2) a last name and/or suffix (e.g., Jr.,Sr., III, IV, etc.) of the person requesting retrieval of the one ormore parcels; (3) a zip code of the person requesting retrieval of theone or more parcels; (4) a house number of the person requestingretrieval of the one or more parcels; (5) a street name of the personrequesting retrieval of the one or more parcels; (6) a city of residenceof the person requesting retrieval of the one or more parcels; (7) astate of residence of the person requesting retrieval of the one or moreparcels; (8) a driver's license number of the person requestingretrieval of the one or more parcels; (9) a date of birth of the personrequesting retrieval of the one or more parcels; (10) a height of theperson requesting retrieval of the one or more parcels; (11) anapproximate weight of the person requesting retrieval of the one or moreparcels; (12) an eye color of the person requesting retrieval of the oneor more parcels; (13) a gender of the person requesting retrieval of theone or more parcels; (14) a hair color of the person requestingretrieval of the one or more parcels and/or (15) any other suitableidentifying information that the system may determine from theidentification card. The system may determine this identifyinginformation from the identification card in any suitable manner such as,for example, using one or more Optical Character Recognition (OCR)techniques, magnetic strip reading techniques, or other card readingtechniques to read and confirm the consignee's name, address, and/or anyother identifying information that may be contained on theidentification card.

In particular embodiments, the system may then confirm the identity ofthe person requesting retrieval of the one or more parcels by comparingany suitable combination of the above identifying information with knowninformation associated with the one or more parcels that the person hasrequested retrieval of The system may for, for example, retrieve PackageLevel Detail (PLD) information associated with the one or more parcels(e.g., a name of the consignee including first name, last name, middlename, and suffix; a delivery address including house number, streetname, zip code, state, etc.; a name of the shipper; a parcel weight;and/or one or more parcel dimensions).

In particular embodiments, the system may confirm the identity of theperson requesting retrieval of the parcel based at least in part onmatching at least a particular number of the pieces of identifyinginformation described above with the respective PLD informationassociated with the one or more parcels. For example, the system mayconfirm an identity in response to determining that the identifyinginformation matches at least three pieces of PLD information (e.g.,street name, zip code, and last name). In various embodiments, thesystem is configured to confirm the individual's identity in response todetermining that any suitable number of pieces of information among theidentifying information and PLD information at least substantially match(e.g., two corresponding pieces of information, three correspondingpieces of information, four corresponding pieces of information, fivecorresponding pieces of information, six corresponding pieces ofinformation, seven corresponding pieces of information, etc.).

In particular embodiments, when comparing PLD information andidentifying information, the system is configured to determine matchesthat are not completely identical in order to confirm a person'sidentity. For example, the system, in various embodiments, is configuredto match PLD information with identifying information based at least inpart on one or more phonetic matches. For example, a parcel may beaddressed to ‘Stephen’ and the system may determine from a person'sidentification card that their name is ‘Steven’. In this example, thesystem may be configured to determine that the PLD information for thefirst name matches the identifying information for first name despitethe difference in spelling. The system may make this determination basedat least in part on ‘Stephen’ being at least phonetically similar to(e.g., phonetically the same as) ‘Steven’. The system may make thisdetermination by, for example, accessing a database of phoneticequivalents of common names. The system may also use similar techniquesto properly identify individuals who have hyphenated last names.

In other embodiments, the system may be configured to confirm anidentity of an individual based, at least in part, on matching one ormore misspelled pieces of information determined from an identificationcard or from PLD information. For example, a parcel may be misaddressedto ‘101 Peechtree Street’ rather than ‘101 Peachtree Street’. In such aninstance, the system may be configured to confirm a match of PLDinformation for street name with identifying information for street namedetermined from a person's identification card despite the misspelling.The system may do this, for example, by using any suitable spellchecking software to identify spelling errors in the PLD information andthen using the software to autocorrect the misspelling of the wordbefore the comparing the word with its counterpart from the individual'sidentification card.

In another particular example, the system may determine, from anidentification card of a an individual attempting to retrieve a parceladdressed to Allan Jones, that the individual has a first name ofChristopher, a middle name of Allan, and a last name of Jones. In suchan example, the system may determine that the PLD information for namematches the identifying information for name because the system, invarious embodiments, is configured to match any portion of the person'sname (e.g., because some people may go by their legal middle name sothat parcel's addressed to them may list only their middle name and nottheir first name). In still other embodiments, the system may beconfigured to determine that a first name is a match for a second namebased at least in part on the second name being a nickname orabbreviated version of the first name (e.g., such as in the case ofSteven and Steve, Christopher and Chris, Elizabeth and Liz, Jacob andJake, etc.).

In a particular example, a parcel addressed to Susan Smith may have beendelivered to a locker bank following an unsuccessful delivery attempt to123 Sunrise Lane, Atlanta, Ga., 30309. In this example, when Susan Smitharrives at the locker bank to retrieve her parcel, she would need toinsert an identification card (e.g., her driver's license) so that thesystem can confirm her identity before releasing the parcel to her. Thesystem may determine, from Susan's driver's license, that her first nameis Susan, her last name is Smith, her house number is 123, her streetname is Sunrise Lane, her city of residence is Atlanta, her state ofresidence is Georgia, and her zip code is 30309. In this example,Susan's identifying information matches at least seven correspondingpieces of PLD information, so the system would confirm Susan's identityand release the parcel to her.

In an alternate example involving Susan Smith's parcel above, Susan mayask her husband Gary to retrieve the parcel for her from the lockerbank. In this example, when Gary Smith arrived at the locker bank toretrieve Susan's parcel, he would need to insert an identification card(e.g., his driver's license) so that the system can confirm his identitybefore releasing the parcel to him. The system may determine, from Garydriver's license, that his first name is Gary, his last name is Smith,his house number is 123, his street name is Sunrise Lane, his city ofresidence is Atlanta, his state of residence is Georgia, and his zipcode is 30309. In this example, the system would confirm Gary's identity(and ability to retrieve the parcel) based at least in part on Gary'sidentifying information matching corresponding six pieces of PLDinformation (last name, house number, street name, city of residence,state of residence, and zip code).

In various embodiments, the system may be configured to confirm theidentity of a consignee using an identification card other than adriver's license. For example, in a particular embodiment, the system isconfigured to confirm the identity of the consignee based at least inpart on receiving credit card information associated with a credit cardof the consignee. The system may, for example, (1) receive credit cardinformation in response to scanning (e.g., or swiping) of the creditcard at a credit card reader associated with the system; (2) determine,based at least in part on the credit card information, a name and/orbilling address associated with the credit card; and/or (3) confirm thatthe credit card information at least partially matches informationassociated with the consignee or the one or more parcels (e.g., anaddress, delivery address, etc.). For example, the system may ensurethat a billing address associated with a credit card of the consignee isthe same as the delivery address of the one or more parcels that theconsignee is attempting to retrieve.

In still other embodiments, the system is configured to confirm theidentity of the person requesting retrieval of the parcel by comparingidentifying information determined from the person's identification cardto information other than PLD information (e.g., one or more physicalcharacteristics of the individual as determined by the system). Forexample, the locker bank may comprise one or more cameras configured todetermine a height of the person requesting retrieval of the parcel. Invarious embodiments, the system may be configured to compare theperson's determined height to a height determined from theiridentification card. In still other embodiments, the locker bank maycomprise one or more cameras configured to determine an eye color of theperson, a hair color of the person, etc. The system may then comparethis determined information with information listed on the person'sidentification card. In various embodiments, confirming the identity ofthe person requesting retrieval of the parcel using this additionalinformation may at least partially prevent an unauthorized person fromretrieving a parcel using an identification card of another person.

B. Identity Confirmation Based on Telephone Number

In various embodiments, the system is configured to confirm the identityof the consignee based at least in part on receipt, by the system, of atelephone number (e.g., a mobile phone number) associated with theperson requesting retrieval of the one or more parcels (e.g., theconsignee). The system may, for example, be configured to confirm theperson's identity substantially only based on the consignee's mobiletelephone number. In various embodiments, confirmation of a consigneebased substantially only on a mobile telephone number may enable someconsignees who may, for example, not have a government issued or otheridentification card suitable for use in confirming the consignee'sidentity to utilize the locker bank to retrieve parcels. In still otherembodiments, confirming the consignee's identity based at least in parton their mobile telephone number may enable consignees that arrived atthe locker bank without an identification card (e.g., because theymisplaced or forgot to bring the identification card to the locker bank)to still retrieve one or more parcels from the locker bank.

The system, in various embodiments, is configured to: (1) receive inputof the person's telephone number (e.g., mobile telephone number); (2)determine identifying information associated with the telephone number(e.g., billing address, account holder name, etc.); (3) compareidentifying information with PLD information associated with the one ormore parcels; (4) at least partially in response to determining that theidentifying information at least partially matches the PLD information,provide a PIN number to the person (e.g., via text message, SMS, e-mail,etc.); (5) receive input of the PIN number at the locker bank; and (6)at least partially in response to receiving input of the PIN number,confirm the identity of the person.

The system may, in particular embodiments, receive the telephone numberof the consignee in response to input, by the consignee, of theconsignee's telephone number into the system (e.g., using a keypad,touchscreen, or other suitable input device at the location of thelocker). In various embodiments, the system is configured to determineidentifying information associated with the telephone number by, forexample, (1) retrieving directory information associated with thetelephone number (e.g., an address, name, and/or other suitabledirectory information); (2) retrieving billing information associatedwith an account associated with the telephone number (e.g., the holderof a cell phone account associated with the telephone number, billingaddress, etc.); (3) retrieving identifying information from one or moresocial network accounts (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, etc.) with which thetelephone number is associated (e.g., such as name, city of residence,etc.); and/or (4) using any other suitable technique.

In various embodiments, the system continues by comparing theidentifying information with PLD information associated with the one ormore parcels. The system may compare this information in any suitablemanner, such as in any manner described above with respect to identityconfirmation using an identification card.

In various embodiments, when confirming an identity of an individualusing a telephone number (such as a cell phone number), at leastpartially in response to determining that the identifying information atleast partially matches the PLD information, the system provides a PINnumber to the person. The system may provide the PIN number to theperson via, for example, SMS, text message, e-mail, voice message, etc.In a particular embodiment, the system is configured to provide the PINnumber to the individual via the mobile phone number provided by theperson as part of the identity confirmation process via any suitablemessage (e.g., text message, SMS, picture message, etc.). The PIN numbermay, for example, include any suitable combination of characters (e.g.,numbers, letters, symbols, etc.) and have any suitable length.

In particular embodiments, the system may be configured to generate thePIN at least partially in response to determining that the identifyinginformation at least partially matches the PLD information. In otherembodiments, the system is configured to generate or retrieve the PINnumber at any other suitable time. In a particular embodiment, thesystem is configured to receive the PIN from a separate system beforeproviding it to the individual retrieving the parcel (e.g., a thirdparty system). In various embodiments, the system may receive the PINfrom the third party system and then provide the PIN to both the personand a third party associated with the locker bank (e.g., a third partythat owns, operates, or otherwise controls the locker bank). In otherembodiments, the third party system may provide the PIN to both theperson and the third party directly.

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to, after the PINnumber is sent to the individual, receive input of the PIN number fromthe individual to whom the PIN number was provided. In variousembodiments, the system is configured to receive the PIN number from theindividual via a computer input device associated with the locker bank.In other embodiments, the system is configured to receive the PIN at aninput device associated with the particular locker in which the one ormore parcels are stored. In other embodiments, the system is configuredto receive the PIN number in any other suitable manner, such as, forexample, by scanning a machine readable indicia associated with the PIN.In various embodiments, the system is configured to confirm the identityof the person at least partially in response to receiving input of thePIN Number.

Although the above process is described above with reference toproviding the individual with a PIN number, it should be understood thatany other piece of unique identifying information may be used in placeof the PIN number. Such unique identifying information may include, forexample, a unique bar code, picture, etc. . . . .

C. Identity Confirmation Based on Geographic Location History

In various embodiments, the system may be adapted to confirm theidentity of an individual based on stored geographic locationinformation for the individual. For example, the system may be adaptedto: (1) receive data regarding the various geographic locations that theindividual has been in over a particular period of time (e.g., viageographic data obtained by a portable computing device associated withthe individual (e.g., the individual's smart phone, a wearable computingdevice associated with the individual, etc. . . . )); (2) use the datato determine whether the individual regularly frequents the originalintended delivery location of the parcel (e.g., the primary deliverylocation) to be picked up by the individual (e.g., whether theindividual visits the original delivery location more than apre-determined number of times every week or month); and (3) in responseto determining that the individual regularly frequents the originalintended delivery location of the parcel to be picked up, confirming theidentity of the individual as an individual who is authorized to pick upthe parcel. In particular embodiments, the original delivery location ofthe parcel may be, for example, the individual's home, place ofbusiness, or a locker bank.

D. Identity Confirmation Based on Current Location of Individual

In various embodiments, the system may be adapted to confirm theidentity of an individual based, at least in part, on the currentlocation of the individual. For example, in particular embodiments, thesystem is adapted to confirm, in any suitable way, that the individualis in an expected physical location (e.g., the individual is currentlyphysically adjacent the locker bank in which a particular parcel isstored). At least partially in response to confirming that theindividual is in the expected physical location, the system may confirmthe identity of the individual as an individual who is authorized topick up the parcel.

In a particular embodiment, the system may confirm that the individualis in a particular physical location (e.g., adjacent a particular lockerbank) by confirming that a mobile computing device (e.g., a smart phone)associated with a particular individual (e.g., the consignee of aparcel, or an individual authorized to retrieve a parcel by theconsignee) is in the particular physical location. For example, in orderto confirm the identity of a consignee that has arrived at a locker bankto retrieve a parcel, the system may obtain the consignee's mobile phonenumber (e.g., from the consignee or from an account associated with theconsignee), use the mobile phone number to obtain information regardingthe current physical location of the mobile phone, compare the currentphysical location of the mobile phone with a known location of thelocker bank (e.g., a location retrieved from the system's memory), and,at least partially in response to determining that the current locationof the consignee's mobile phone is adjacent the locker bank, confirmingthe identity of the individual as the consignee. Alternatively, theparticular individual may use an appropriate application (e.g., app) ontheir mobile computing device to transmit their current location to thesystem.

In other embodiments, the system may retrieve the individual's currentlocation from one or more social media sites, such as Facebook orFoursquare. In further embodiments, the system may determine theindividual's current location by receiving a local wireless transmissionfrom the individual's mobile computing device (e.g., via near fieldcommunication (NFC), Bluetooth, or any other suitable wirelesscommunication protocol).

E. Identity Confirmation Based on Electronic Delivery NotificationDevice

In various embodiments, the system may be adapted to confirm theidentity of an individual by confirming that the individual has, intheir possession, an electronic (or non-electronic) deliverynotification device that was left at a primary delivery location when acarrier unsuccessfully attempted to deliver a parcel to the primarydelivery location. In various embodiments, the electronic deliverynotification device may include a screen or other communicationsmechanism for communicating, to a user, that they have received a parceland, for example, will need to retrieve the parcel elsewhere (e.g., at aparticular locker bank).

The electronic delivery notification device may further include asuitable mechanism for conveying a unique code that may be used toassociate the electronic delivery notification device with theparticular parcel. In particular embodiments, this unique code isassociated with package level detail information for the parcel in thesystem's memory (e.g., in a suitable database). In various embodiments,the individual may bring the electronic delivery notification devicewith them to the locker bank storing the parcel when they wish toretrieve the parcel. The system may then confirm that the individual isauthorized to retrieve the parcel, at least in part by: (1) receivingthe unique code of the electronic delivery notification device (e.g., byelectronically reading the code from the surface of the electronicdelivery notification device, by receiving a wireless or wiredtransmission of the code from the electronic delivery notificationdevice, via passive or active RFID technology and/or by any othersuitable means); (2) comparing the unique code of the electronicdelivery notification device with the unique electronic deliverynotification device code that is stored in the system's memory; and (3)at least partially in response to the unique code of the electronicdelivery notification device matching the unique electronic deliverynotification device code that is stored in the system's memory,confirming the identity of the individual as an individual who isauthorized to pick up the parcel.

F. Substantially Automatic Identity Confirmation

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to substantiallyautomatically confirm the identity of the individual requestingretrieval of the one or more parcels (e.g., without requiring the personto provide additional identifying information such as an identificationcard or telephone number). In particular embodiments, the system isconfigured to substantially automatically confirm a person's identitybased at least in part on receiving the request to retrieve the one ormore parcels from a consignee account associated with a carrier, or inresponse to the system identifying the individual using biometricinformation, such as the individual's fingerprints, facial structure, orretinal coloration patterns, to identify the individual.

In a particular embodiment, the system is configured to provide aconsignee with one or more messages (e.g., e-mails, text messages, etc.)that indicate that a parcel intended for delivery to the consignee hasbeen delivered to a particular locker bank, where the consignee has aconsignee account with a carrier handling delivery of the parcel. Theone or more messages may include a machine-readable indicia or othercode associated with the parcel and the consignee. In response to theconsignee (e.g., or another person to whom the consignee has providedthe one or more messages) scanning the machine-readable indicia orentering the other code associated with the parcel and the consignee atthe locker bank, the system may be configured to substantiallyautomatically confirm the identity of the consignee by virtue of theconsignee having the consignee account with the carrier (e.g., becausethe system may have previously confirmed the consignee's identity aspart of the process of opening the consignee account). In certainembodiments, the system is adapted to allow the consignee to forward theone or more message containing the machine-readable indicia or othercode to a friend or relative (e.g., third party or other individual) toenable the friend, relative, or other individual to retrieve the parcelon the consignee's behalf from the locker bank without furtherauthentication.

In other embodiments, the system is configured to confirm the identityof the consignee by receiving input of account information of theconsignee. In particular embodiments, the account information may be foran account associated with: (1) the carrier that shipped the one or moreparcels; (2) the shipper (e.g., a retail website or other e-commercesite); and/or (3) any other account suitable for confirming the identityof the consignee (e.g., an account associated with one or more socialnetworks, e-mail providers, etc.). In particular embodiments, theaccount information may comprise a username and password, which the usermay enter via any suitable input device at or adjacent the locker bank,or at any other suitable location.

In still other embodiments, the system is configured to confirm theidentity of the consignee using any other suitable technique. The systemmay, for example, confirm that a geographic location of the consignee atthe time the consignee requests the one or more parcels is the lockerbank from which the consignee is making the request (e.g., by using GPSon a mobile computing device associated with the consignee, near fieldcommunications (NFC), Low-Energy Bluetooth (LEB) and/or iBeacon betweenthe mobile computing device associated with the consignee and a secondcomputing device at the locker bank, or other suitable technique). Instill another embodiment, the system may confirm the consignee'sgeographic location history from, for example, a mobile device known tobe identified with that consignee. This may be done, for example, toverify that the consignee does, in fact, frequent the GPS location ofthe original location for delivery. In yet another example, acombination of both the consignee's GPS history and the geographiclocation of the locker that the consignee is attempting to access may beused to verify the consignee's identity.

II. Release of the Parcel to the Individual

Returning to FIG. 5, at Step 530, the system, at least partially inresponse to confirming the identity of the individual, releases the oneor more parcels to the individual. In various embodiments, the system isconfigured to obtain a signature of the individual prior to releasingthe one or more parcels. In particular embodiments, releasing the one ormore parcels comprises substantially automatically unlocking a securedoor of the locker containing the one or more parcels to provide theconsignee (or other authorized individual) with access to the locker'sinterior (e.g., so the consignee can retrieve the one or more parcels)and optionally indicating to the individual which locker to retrieve theparcel(s) from. In various embodiments, releasing the one or moreparcels further comprises receiving input from the consignee confirmingthat the one or more parcels being released to the consignee are, infact, addressed to and intended for delivery to the consignee (e.g., byinstructing the consignee to review the delivery information on the oneor more parcels and confirm that they are the intended recipient).

In a particular embodiment, the system is further configured to confirmdelivery of the parcel to the consignee in response to the consignee'sretrieval of the one or more parcels from the locker, and/or theconsignee's subsequent closing of the locker. In various embodiments,this confirmation of delivery may involve, for example: (1) updating adatabase within the system to reflect that the parcel has beendelivered; (2) sending a formal notice to the shipper, consignee,carrier (e.g., common carrier), or other party confirming the delivery.

D. Consignee Account Creation Module

In various embodiments, the system is adapted to allow an “unsubscribed”consignee to use the locker bank to arrange for future notifications(e.g., by the system) of current, past, or upcoming parcel deliveries tothe consignee's address as well to allow the consignee to retrievefuture parcels from the locker bank without additional identityconfirmation. The system may do this, for example, by prompting theconsignee (e.g., on a computer display screen associated with the lockerbank) to indicate whether the “unsubscribed” consignee wishes to receiveelectronic or paper notifications of any future parcel deliveries made(e.g., by the carrier) to the consignee's address. In variousembodiments, the system may be adapted to send such notificationselectronically to the consignee's cell phone via an SMS message (e.g.,using the cell phone number that the system has associated with theconsignee's address, or the cell phone number that the consigneeprovided to confirm their identity as described above). Such an approachmay allow the “unsubscribed” consignee to receive future notificationsof past, current, or upcoming parcel deliveries to the consignee'saddress without having to formally sign up for such notifications byestablishing an account with the carrier.

In a particular embodiment, the system may, in addition, oralternatively, offer to establish an account for the user with thecarrier (e.g., common carrier). Such an account (e.g., UPS' MyChoiceservice) may, for example, help the consignee coordinate more advancedhandling of incoming parcels, and related logistics services. Variousaspects of the system's functionality may be executed by certain systemmodules, including a Consignee Account Creation Module 600. This moduleis discussed in greater detail below.

In various embodiments, when executing the Consignee Account CreationModule 600, the system begins, at Step 610, by receiving one or morepieces of identifying information associated with the consignee. The oneor more pieces of identifying information may include, for example, anyidentifying information (e.g., information collected in the context ofStep 520 of the Consignee Parcel Release Module 500 discussed above)that may be used to confirm the identity of the consignee. Thisidentifying information may, for example, include the consignee's: (1)first name and/or middle name; (2) last name and/or suffix (e.g., Jr.,Sr., III, IV, etc.); (3) zip code; (4) house number; (5) street name;(6) city of residence; (7) state of residence; (8) driver's licensenumber; (9) date of birth; (10) height; (11) weight; (12) eye color;(13) gender; (14) telephone number; (16) e-mail address; and/or (17) anyother suitable identifying information associated with the consignee.

Continuing at Step 620, the system prompts the consignee to create anaccount associated with the carrier. In various embodiments, the carrieris the carrier that facilitated delivery of the parcel. In otherembodiments, the carrier is a carrier (e.g., a common carrier)associated with the locker bank. In particular embodiments, the systemmay be configured to prompt the consignee in any suitable manner, suchas, for example, via a computer display at the locker bank, an SMS tothe user's mobile computing device, e-mail, etc.

The system continues, at Step 630, by receiving an indication that theconsignee wishes to create the account. The system may receive theindication in substantially the same manner in which the system promptedthe consignee to create the account (e.g., via SMS, e-mail, SocialNetwork, etc. or via a computer display located at the locker bank). Inother embodiments, the consignee may request to create the account on asuitable website.

Next, at Step 640, the system, at least partially in response toreceiving the indication, facilitates the creation of an accountassociated with the consignee and further associates known identifyinginformation about the consignee with the account. In facilitating thecreation of the account, the system, in various embodiments, isconfigured to prompt the consignee to provide any additional informationthat was not received at Step 610 as identifying information associatedwith the consignee that the system may require to create the account.For example, the consignee may not have provided a telephone number ore-mail address to the system as part of the identity confirmationprocess for releasing the parcel from the locker bank. In such aninstance, the system may prompt the consignee (e.g., via a suitabledisplay at the locker bank) to provide their telephone number and/ore-mail address (e.g., by entering either or both into an input device atthe locker bank. In particular embodiments, the system may furtherprompt the consignee to establish an account name (e.g., user name) andpassword for the account, which the consignee may use, for example, toaccess the account, update account information, track parcels, etc.

In various embodiments, the system is configured to enable the consigneeto complete the account creation process at the locker bank (e.g., usinga suitable locker bank computer) substantially in real time as theconsignee is picking up the one or more parcels from the locker bank. Inother embodiments, the system is configured to enable the user tocomplete the account creation process at a later time and/or at adifferent location, for example, by logging into a web site associatedwith the carrier via any suitable computing device, by responding to amessage (e.g., SMS, e-mail, etc.) from the carrier and providing theadditional required information for account creation, or in any othersuitable manner. In some embodiments, the system is configured to promptthe consignee to provide sufficient information at the locker bank toenable the system to follow up with the consignee at a later time tocomplete the creation of the account. For example, the system may promptthe consignee to provide a mobile telephone number to which the systemis configured to send a text message containing a link to a website orother instructions that the consignee can follow to complete thecreation of the account. In various embodiments, collecting theadditional required information from the consignee at a later time mayenable the system to reduce a wait time for other consignees to accessthe locker bank to retrieve their parcel(s).

In particular embodiments, once the consignee has created an account,the system may be configured to utilize consignee account informationwhen redirecting unsuccessful deliveries and ultimately releasingredirected parcels. In other embodiments, the system may utilize theauthorized associated phone number or other information (e.g. socialnetwork information, Twitter, e-mail, etc.) to provide variousnotifications to the consignee when an unsuccessful delivery attempt ofa parcel is made to the consignee's address. For example, the system maybe configured to notify the consignee via a suitable electronic message(e.g., SMS, text message, e-mail, social network message) that adelivery attempt to the consignee's address was unsuccessful. Themessage may further include information about an alternate deliverylocation (e.g., locker bank) to which the parcel was redirected and anyother suitable information. This sort of message (e.g., notification)may take the place of or supplement any physical notice (e.g., papernotice) left at the consignee's address upon an unsuccessful delivery.The system may be further configured to provide the consignee withoptions regarding the parcel such as options to: (1) have the carrierhold the parcel for a later delivery attempt; (2) authorize release ofthe parcel (e.g., without a signature); (3) re-direct the parcel to adifferent address; and/or (4) execute any other suitable deliveryoption.

Exemplary User Experience

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary locker bank 700 from which a consignee mayretrieve one or more parcels that have been at least temporarily storedin one or more particular lockers in the locker bank, for example,following an unsuccessful delivery of the one or more parcels to theconsignee's home address. As shown in this figure, a locker bank 700,according to a particular embodiment, comprises a plurality of lockers710 of varying sizes (e.g., small, medium, large, etc.). The locker bank700 further comprises an awning 720 that extends outwardly from an upperportion of the locker bank 700 and may provide at least partialprotection to consignees from various weather conditions such as rain,snow, wind, and sun when the consignees are retrieving parcels from thelocker bank 700. In the embodiment shown in this figure, the locker bank700 further comprises a locker bank computer 730 that consignees may useto facilitate the retrieval of their one or more parcels from the lockerbank 700, for example, in any manner described in this disclosure or inany other suitable manner.

FIG. 8 depicts the locker bank computer 730 from FIG. 7. As shown inthis figure, the locker bank computer 730, in a particular embodiment,comprises a touch-screen display 740, one or more imaging devices 750(e.g., one or more cameras), a card reader 760, and a machine-readableindicia scanner 770 (e.g., a barcode scanner). As may be understood fromthis disclosure and FIGS. 7 and 8, a delivery driver that is deliveringor picking up one or more parcels from the locker bank 700 or aconsignee (e.g., or other person on behalf of the consignee) desiring toretrieve one or more parcels from the locker bank would first approachthe locker bank computer 730. FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary screen displaythat a user (e.g., a delivery driver or consignee) would be greeted withwhen they approached the locker bank computer 730. As shown in thisfigure, the welcome screen includes instructions for a delivery driver(e.g., “Scan Your Locker Access Barcode”) and a consignee (e.g., “Scanor Enter Your Locker Access Barcode”) as well as a selectable indiciafor a maintenance technician to login to the locker bank computer 730 inorder to perform maintenance (e.g., cleaning, software updates, etc.).An exemplary user experience for a delivery driver and consignee aredescribed more fully below.

Exemplary Delivery Driver Experience

In a particular embodiment, the delivery driver scans a machine-readableindicia located on the driver's DIAD (e.g., or on another mobilecomputing device associated with the delivery driver or his ID card)using the locker bank computer's machine-readable indicia scanner 770(e.g., bar code scanner). In response to the delivery driver scanningthe machine-readable indicia, the system is configured to log thedelivery driver into the locker bank computer 730 and display a serviceprovider menu as shown in FIG. 10. As may be understood from thisfigure, the Service Provider Menu enables the delivery driver to deliveror pick up packages by selecting the associated indicia from thetouch-screen display 740. The Service Provider Menu further displays anumber of available lockers for each particular size locker in thelocker bank. The system further displays a number of Exception Packages,which may, for example, include one or more packages for which theconsignee has requested delivery to another location, packages that havebeen stored at the locker bank beyond a pickup deadline, etc. As shownin FIG. 10, in this exemplary Delivery Driver Experience, two mediumlockers are available, one large locker is available, and oneextra-large locker is available, and there are no Exception Packagesthat require pickup by the delivery driver.

Because there are no exception packages for the delivery driver toretrieve in this example (the number of exception packages is shown as0), the delivery driver would select the “Deliver Package” indicia inFIG. 10 to initiate the package delivery process. At least partially inresponse to selection, by the delivery driver, of the “Deliver Package”indicia in FIG. 10, the system, in this embodiment, is configured todisplay a detailed Available Locker Summary to the delivery driver asshown in FIG. 11. The Available Locker Summary displays a number ofavailable lockers in each size for the locker bank and enables todelivery driver to initiate delivery of a package to the locker bank by:(1) scanning the package (e.g., scanning a machine-readable indicia suchas a barcode on the package or on the package shipping label); or (2)otherwise enter the Tracking Number for the package (e.g., entering thetracking number manually).

The delivery driver then scans the package's barcode using themachine-readable indicia scanner 770. In response to receiving the scanof the package's barcode, the system then substantially automaticallyprovides the driver access to one locker in each available size (e.g.,the system opens a door to a medium locker, a large locker, and anextra-large locker), retrieves information associated with the scannedpackage, and displays the package's tracking number to the deliverydriver as well as instructions to deliver the package to a locker andclose the locker door as shown in FIG. 12. The delivery driver thenselects the smallest of the three open lockers that the package fits in,places the package in the selected locker, and closes the door. Inresponse to the delivery driver closing the locker door, the systemassociates the package with the selected locker in the system's memory.

After placing the package in the locker and closing the door, thedelivery driver returns to the locker bank computer 730 and confirms thelocker in which the package was placed. The delivery driver mayoptionally manually enter a correct locker identifier if the system isdisplaying the incorrect locker identifier for the package, or undo theaction if there is a problem (e.g., if the delivery driver inadvertentlyclosed a locker door without placing the package inside). If thedelivery is successful, the delivery driver may scan another package andrepeat the delivery process, or end the delivery session if he has nomore parcels to deliver.

If there is an issue when the delivery driver is attempting to deliverthe package to a locker, the delivery driver can report an exceptionusing the locker bank computer 730 via the Report Exception screendisplay shown in FIGS. 12 and 14. The delivery driver may be unable todeliver the package to a locker for any suitable reason such as, forexample, the locker being dirty (e.g., has trash or liquid that wouldmake the locker unsuitable for storage of a parcel), a locker havingmalfunctioned and having failed to open or lock closed, the package notfitting in any of the available lockers, etc. The delivery driver mayprovide the system with information via the display in FIG. 14 byselecting the indicia associated with the issue. The system may thenprovide the driver with further instructions depending on the type ofissue (e.g., may instruct the delivery driver to deliver the package toa different, clean locker, etc.).

Exemplary Consignee Experience

In a particular embodiment, when arriving at the locker bank 700 toretrieve a parcel, the consignee may scan their “Information Notice”(e.g., which was left at their residence—or other deliveryaddress—following the unsuccessful delivery attempt) using the lockerbank computer's machine-readable indicia scanner 770. Alternatively, theconsignee may enter a Tracking Number (e.g., at least a portion of thetracking number) manually by selecting the appropriate indicia on thedisplay shown in FIG. 15. In response to the consignee scanning their“information notice”, the system retrieves information associated withthe information notice and prompts the consignee to insert agovernment-issued ID into the card reader 760 in order to verify theconsignee's identity as shown in FIG. 16.

If the consignee does not have a suitable government issued ID, theconsignee may select an indicia to indicate this and enter their mobilephone number as shown in FIG. 17. After the consignee enters theirmobile phone number into the system, the system confirms the consignee'sidentity based on their mobile phone number and then provides a PINnumber to the consignee (e.g., via SMS/Text, or via telephone call) viathe mobile phone number provided. The consignee then enters the PINnumber that they received on their mobile phone via the exemplary screendisplay depicted in FIG. 18.

Following the identity verification via ID scan or phone number, thesystem, as shown in FIG. 19: (1) displays to the consignee a number ofpackages available for collection by the consignee; (2) opens the lockerin which the package is stored; and (3) instructs the consignee toretrieve the package, close the locker door, and return to the lockerbank computer 730. The consignee may then retrieve their package fromthe opened locker (Locker B2), return to the locker bank computer 730,and sign for the package using the touch-screen display as shown in FIG.20. The system then displays a “Thank You” screen to the consignee asshown in FIG. 21, from which the user can select to pick up anotherpackage (e.g., and repeat the process above) or complete theirtransaction.

As may be understood from FIGS. 15-21, a consignee may elect to call thecarrier at any time during the package pickup process if they have anissue or difficulty, or view a help menu for additional information. Ifthe consignee elects to call the carrier, the system, in variousembodiments, initiates a call to the carrier via the locker bankcomputer 730 and enables the consignee to speak to a customer serviceagent or other representative via two way voice, video, or othercommunication means. In particular embodiments, a consignee may initiatecommunication with a customer service agent, for example, to report aproblem with the locker bank (e.g., to report a malfunctioning lockerbank computer), to report a problem retrieving a parcel (e.g., due touser error or for any other reason), report an issue or difficulty withthe identity confirmation process described above, or for any othersuitable reason. In various embodiments, the system is configured toenable the customer service agent to remotely control one or morefeatures of the locker bank (e.g., providing access to the one or morelockers, etc.)

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to enable thecustomer service agent to manually confirm an identity of the consigneeby: (1) capturing one or more images of the consignee's identificationcard; (2) displaying the one or more captured images to the customerservice agent; (3) displaying one or more substantially current images(e.g., one or more photographs or video images taken by the system withthe one or more imaging devices 750) of the consignee to the customerservice agent; and (4) enabling the customer service agent to visuallyconfirm the identity of the consignee and provide the system withconfirmation of the agent's visual confirmation of the consignee'sidentity.

Alternative Embodiments

Various embodiments of a system for delivering parcels to locker bankand other locations may include features in addition to those discussedabove. Various alternative embodiments are described below.

Delivery and Pickup of Ace-Restricted Items at Locker Banks

In various embodiments, the system is configured to redirectundeliverable parcels containing items that are age restricted (e.g.,such as alcohol, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, firearms, etc.) to a suitablelocker bank. These age restricted items may include items which wouldotherwise require a person of at least a particular age to be present tosign for the items at delivery. In such embodiments, when a consigneerequests to retrieve the age-restricted item from the locker bank, thesystem may be configured to verify an age of the consignee beforereleasing the item to the consignee. For example, the system maydetermine and verify the consignee's age based at least in part on adate of birth listed on the consignee's ID card used by the system inverifying the consignee's identity as described above. In otherembodiments, the system may be configured to initiate a one-way ortwo-way video call between the consignee and a representative of thecarrier to enable the carrier's representative to visually confirm theconsignee's age by inspecting the consignee's ID card and an image ofthe consignee before providing authorization for the system to releasethe item. In still other embodiments, the system may be configured toconfirm the age of the consignee in any other suitable manner.

CONCLUSION

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come tomind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains havingthe benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions andthe associated drawings. While examples discussed above cover the use ofvarious embodiments in the context of the delivery of one or moreparcels to a locker bank, various embodiments may be used in any othersuitable context. For example, the various techniques used to identifyindividuals described herein may be used in any applicable context suchas, for example, confirming the identity of an individual at an attendedparcel pickup location, an ATM machine, a ticket vending machine, or inany other situation in which confirmation of an individual's identitywould be advantageous. Similarly, while various techniques describedherein are described in conjunction with facilitating delivery of aparcel that was not successfully delivered on a first delivery attempt,such techniques may also be applicable in delivering parcels directly toa primary delivery location, such as a locker bank. Therefore, it is tobe understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specificembodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments areintended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for the purposes of limitation.

I claim:
 1. A computer-implemented method for directing one or moreparcels to a suitable locker bank location, the method comprising:receiving, by a processor, a first indication that delivery of one ormore parcels is not possible to a designated consignee at a primarydelivery location; determining, by a processor, a suitable locker banklocation based at least in part on the primary delivery location;facilitating delivery of the parcel to the suitable locker banklocation; receiving, by a processor, at a computing device associatedwith the suitable locker bank location, a first request to deliver theone or more parcels to the suitable locker bank location; at leastpartially in response to receiving the first request, providing access,by a processor, to one or more lockers at the suitable locker banklocation; receiving, by a processor, a second indication that the one ormore parcels have been placed in a particular one of the one or morelockers; and at least partially in response to receiving the secondindication, associating the one or more parcels with the particular oneof the one or more lockers.
 2. The computer-implemented method of claim1, wherein: the one or more lockers comprise one or more lockers havinga first locker size and one or more lockers having a second locker size;and the second locker size is larger than the first locker size.
 3. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein: the one or more lockersfurther comprise one or more lockers having a third locker size; and thethird locker size is larger than the second locker size.
 4. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, the method further comprisingnotifying one or more agents of a carrier of one or more parcelsavailable for pickup from the suitable locker bank location.
 5. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 4, the method further comprising:receiving, by a processor, at the computing device associated with thesuitable locker bank location, a second request to pick up the one ormore parcels available for pickup from the suitable locker banklocation; at least partially in response to receiving the secondrequest, providing access, by a processor, to one or more lockerscontaining the one or more parcels available for pickup from thesuitable locker location; receiving, by a processor, a third indicationthat the one or more parcels available for pickup have been removed fromthe one or more lockers containing the one or more parcels available forpickup; and at least partially in response to receiving the thirdindication, updating tracking information, by a processor, for the oneor more parcels scheduled for pickup.
 6. The computer-implemented methodof claim 1, the method further comprising: generating, by a processor, adeadline by which a designated consignee must retrieve the one or moreparcels from the particular one of the one or more lockers; andnotifying, by a processor, the designated consignee of the deadline. 7.The computer-implemented method of claim 6, the method furthercomprising; determining, by a processor, whether the deadline haspassed; determining, by a processor, whether the designated consigneehas retrieved the one or more parcels from the particular one of the oneor more lockers; at least partially in response to determining that thedeadline has passed and the designated consignee has not retrieved theone or more parcels from the particular one of the one or more lockers,designating, by a processor, the one or more parcels for pickup;receiving, by a processor, at the computing device associated with thesuitable locker bank location, a second request to pick up the one ormore parcels; at least partially in response to receiving the secondrequest, providing access, by a processor, to the particular one of theone or more lockers; receiving, by a processor, a third indication thatthe one or more parcels have been removed from the particular one of theone or more lockers; at least partially in response to receiving thethird indication, facilitating, by a processor, an action selected fromthe group consisting of: i. facilitating a second delivery attempt ofthe one or more parcels to the primary delivery location; and ii.facilitating a return of the one or more parcels to a shipper of the oneor more parcels.
 8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, whereinproviding access to the one or more lockers comprises: unlocking the oneor more lockers; and at least partially opening the one or more lockers.9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the method furthercomprising: determining, by a processor, a substantially current lockeravailability at the suitable locker bank location; and displaying, by aprocessor, the substantially current locker availability on a displayassociated with the suitable locker bank location.
 10. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for:receiving, from a delivery driver, a first indication that delivery of aparcel at a primary delivery location is not possible; receiving one ormore locker bank location preferences; determining, based at least inpart on the one or more locker bank location preferences, a first lockerbank location; at least partially in response to receiving the firstindication that delivery of the parcel at the primary delivery locationis not possible, redirecting the parcel to the first locker banklocation; receiving, from the delivery driver, a request to deliver theparcel at the first locker bank location; at least partially in responseto the request, providing access to at least a first locker having afirst locker size and a second locker having a second locker size;receiving a second indication that the parcel has been placed in thefirst locker; and at least partially in response to receiving the secondindication, associating the parcel with the first locker.
 11. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein: providingaccess to at least the first locker and the second locker comprisesunlocking the first locker and the second locker; receiving the secondindication comprises receiving an indication that the delivery driverhas closed the first locker; and the computer-implemented method furthercomprises locking the first locker at least partially in response toreceiving the indication that the delivery driver has closed the firstlocker.
 12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11,further storing computer-executable instructions for: receiving, fromthe delivery driver, a second request to deliver a second parcel at thefirst locker bank location; at least partially in response to the secondrequest, providing access to a third locker having a first locker size,wherein providing access to the third locker comprises unlocking thethird locker; receiving a third indication that the second parcel hasbeen placed in the second locker, wherein receiving the third indicationcomprises receiving an indication that the delivery driver has closedthe second locker; and at least partially in response to receiving thethird indication, associating the second parcel with the second lockerand locking the second locker.
 13. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 10, further storing computer-executable instructionsfor: displaying a locker identifier associated with the first locker;enabling the delivery driver to confirm that the delivery driver placedthe parcel in a locker that corresponds to the displayed lockeridentifier; receiving an indication from the delivery driver that thedelivery driver did not place the parcel in the locker that correspondsto the displayed locker identifier; and at least partially in responseto receiving the indication, disassociating the parcel from the firstlocker.
 14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10,wherein the first locker size is greater than the second locker size.15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein thefirst locker size is less than the second locker size.
 16. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, further storingcomputer-executable instructions for: determining a substantiallycurrent availability of lockers having a first locker size and lockershaving a second locker size at the first locker bank location; anddisplaying, on a display associated with the first locker bank, thesubstantially current availability.
 17. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein receiving the request todeliver the parcel at the first locker bank location comprisesreceiving, via a machine-readable indicia reader associated with thefirst locker bank location, a scan of one or more machine-readableindicia associated with the parcel.
 18. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 10, further storingcomputer-executable instructions for: generating a deadline by which adesignated consignee must retrieve the parcel from the first locker banklocation; notifying the designated consignee of the deadline;determining whether the deadline has passed; determining whether thedesignated consignee has retrieved the parcel from the first locker banklocation; and at least partially in response to determining that thedeadline has passed and the designated consignee has not retrieved theparcel, facilitating a pickup of the parcel from the first locker banklocation.
 19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10,further storing computer-executable instructions for: enabling thedelivery driver to override the redirecting the parcel to the firstlocker bank location; receiving, from the delivery driver, a request tooverride the redirecting the parcel to the first locker bank location,the request comprising a request to redirect the parcel to a secondlocker bank location; and at least partially in response to receivingthe request, facilitating delivery of the parcel to the second lockerbank location.
 20. A computer system comprising: at least one processor,wherein the computer system is configured for: receiving, from adelivery driver, a first request to access a computing device associatedwith a particular locker bank; at least partially in response toreceiving the request, enabling the delivery driver to: deliver one ormore undeliverable parcels to the particular locker bank, the one ormore undeliverable parcels having been unsuccessfully delivered to oneor more primary delivery locations; and pick up one or more parcelsscheduled for pickup from the particular locker bank; receiving, fromthe delivery driver, a second request to deliver the one or moreundeliverable parcels to the particular locker bank; at least partiallyin response to receiving the second request, providing access to one ormore first lockers at the particular locker bank, the one or more firstlockers currently containing no parcels; receiving a first indicationthat the one or more undeliverable parcels have been placed in aparticular one of the one or more first lockers; at least partially inresponse to receiving the first indication, associating the one or moreundeliverable parcels with the particular one of the one or more firstlockers; receiving, from the delivery driver, a third request to pick upthe one or more parcels scheduled for pickup from the particular lockerbank; at least partially in response to the third request, providingaccess to one or more second lockers currently containing the one ormore parcels scheduled for pickup; receiving a second indication thatthe one or more parcels scheduled for pickup have been removed from theone or more second lockers; and at least partially in response toreceiving the second indication, facilitating an action selected fromthe group consisting of: i. facilitating a return of the one or moreparcels scheduled for pickup to a shipper of the one or more parcelsscheduled for pickup; and ii. facilitating delivery of the one or moreparcels scheduled for pickup to a primary delivery location associatedwith the one or more parcels scheduled for pickup.